Is The Vaccine Safe
Yes. Contrary to popular belief, you cant get the flu from the flu shot. The flu shot also does not cause autism. The vaccine only contains inactivated or dead pieces of virusenough to teach your body how to recognize and wipe out the actual virus, but not enough to make you sick.
This doesnt mean there are no side effectsthe most common being a little redness, soreness and/or swelling at the injection site. Some people also experience headaches, a slight fever, nausea, and muscle aches. These usually go away on their own.
If you suddenly have trouble breathing, or experience swelling or a racing heartbeat, call 911. This could be an allergic reaction.
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Flu Shots Now Available At Cvs Walmart Walgreens And Rite
In this Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020 file photo, a patient receives an influenza vaccine in Mesquite, Texas. Walmart, CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens have started administering the flu shot for 2021. AP
While Americans are being highly encouraged to get a COVID-19 vaccine, pharmacies are looking ahead to the 2021 flu season.
CVS, Walmart, Walgreens and Rite Aid have announced they are accepting appointments for people to get a flu shot.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people age 6 months and older receive a flu shot before the end of October and that getting it is even more important during the pandemic.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, reducing the overall burden of respiratory illnesses is important to protect vulnerable populations at risk for severe illness, the healthcare system, and other critical infrastructure. Thus, healthcare personnel should use every opportunity during the influenza season to administer influenza vaccines to all eligible persons, the CDC said.
Rite Aid is offering the flu vaccine via walk-in appointments and online scheduling. Rite Aid began administering the flu shot on Aug. 12.
Walmart said it is offering a low-cost flu vaccine and a free COVID-19 vaccine that people can get at the same time.
Walmart said it also will continue to take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while administering vaccines.
CVS said it has flu shots available at all CVS Pharmacy and MinuteClinic locations.
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How To Schedule Your Covid
Online
- Check appointment availability in your area
- Log in, create a Walgreens pharmacy account, or use guest scheduling. A parent or legal guardian must complete registration for minors under the age of 13 as our sites are not intended for minors under the age of 13. Account creation is subject to age restriction.
- Confirm your eligibility by answering screening questions
- Schedule your appointments for your first and second doses
Walgreens App
- From the homepage, click “COVID-19 Vaccination”
- Check appointment availability in your area
- Log in, or create a Walgreens pharmacy account. If you want to schedule online without creating an account or schedule an appointment on behalf of someone else, including your minor child, visit the Walgreens website and select continue as guest, call your local pharmacy, or call 1-800-WALGREENS .
- Confirm your eligibility by answering screening questions
- Schedule your appointments for your first and second doses
Over the phone
- Choose option 1 for COVID-19 vaccine appointment information. We can help you in English and Spanish
- Follow the steps to schedule your appointments for your first and second doses
Walgreens Offers Scheduled And Walk
You can schedule an appointment online with any Walgreens Pharmacy. Scheduling an appointment will let you answer screener questions and enter your insurance or GoodRx coupon info, so you can be in and out even faster. You can also schedule a vaccine appointment or 1-800-WALGREENS . If you decide you would rather get your flu vaccine while youre already out of the house, walk-ins are welcome. Find your nearest Walgreens, or visit the Walgreens flu page for more information.
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What Should I Expect When I Get There
Walgreens is following Covid-19 guidelines from the CDC and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration . That means theyre cleaning after each patient, following social distancing guidelines, and have installed plexiglass shields at registers. Staff members wear disposable face masks at all times. Those giving the shots will also wear gloves and plastic face shields.
Youll need to put on a mask before entering the store. A pharmacy staff member will take your temperature and ask you about symptoms like a cough or body aches. If you show signs of getting sick, like a fever, youll have to reschedule.
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Who Should Get The Flu Vaccine
The CDC recommends that everyone over the age of six months get a flu vaccine every year, especially people who are at a higher risk of complications from the flu. This includes people 65 years and over, people with asthma, diabetes, heart disease, or certain other chronic conditions, pregnant women, and children under five. In addition to new babies, people who are allergic to eggs or another ingredient in the flu vaccine should talk to their doctor before getting a flu shot. So should people who have had Guillain-Barré Syndrome and anyone who thinks they are currently sick.
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What Are The Flu Vaccine Side Effects
Common flu shot reactions include redness, soreness, or swelling in the area where the shot was administered. The nasal spray could cause different side effects, such as runny nose, sore throat, or a cough. These side effects are usually mild and short-lived.
Some people may also develop a low-grade fever or body aches. Similar to the other side effects, these symptoms are usually mild and quickly go away on their own. While some of these side effects may feel flu-like, it’s important to remember that flu vaccines will not make you sick with the flu.
Allergic reactions to the flu shot are rare.
Should I Get A Flu Shot If I Got A Covid Shot
Getting your flu shot is extra important this year to avoid a “twindemic.”
Yes, yes and yes again. The COVID-19 vaccines cannot protect you against the flu, nor can the flu shot protect you from COVID-19. So if you want protection against both COVID-19 and the flu, you’ll need two separate vaccines.
Getting a flu shot is important because it can save our hospitals from overflowing. The flu puts hundreds of thousands of people in the hospital every year, from the flu itself and from flu-related complications, such as pneumonia.
Dr. Nabeel Chaudhary, an internist at Manhattan Specialty Care, says everyone who can get the flu shot should get it. To optimize health and safety, everyone who gets a flu shot should “use all recommended precautionary measures, including hand sanitizer and face masks while leaving their homes to get the vaccine and for any other reasons,” Chaudhary says. “These measures will help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and flu.”
As a reminder, you can get your flu shot when you “go to the doctor for any other reason,” Chaudhary says. So if you already have an appointment scheduled for something else, minimize your trips to the clinic by getting your flu shot then. You can also try a pharmacy or quick clinic, Chaudhary says .
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Why Should You Get Vaccinated At Walgreens
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Walgreens offers scheduled and walk-in flu vaccinations. Here are just a few of the many reasons to get vaccinated at Walgreens:
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Many convenient locationsWith over 9,000 locations in all 50 states, you can easily find a location near you.
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Earn rewards on in-store purchasesWith MyWalgreens, you can earn $5 Walgreens Cash rewards on your next in-store purchase of $20+ for every vaccine you get at Walgreens.
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Get your flu shot and help a child in needWith Get a Shot. Give a Shot.®, we’re helping provide 100 million life-saving vaccines to children in need around the world by 2024. When you get your flu shot, you help provide a life-saving vaccine to a child in need.
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Book your vaccine appointment and an Uber in one appGetting to your vaccine appointment is even easier now that Walgreens is partnering with Uber. Find available COVID-19 appointments at Walgreens and book your Uber ride to the appointment through one seamless in-app experience.
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Take your whole family to be vaccinated at one placeWalgreens offers flu shots for anyone ages three and older in most states.
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Your flu shot will always be given by a licensed pharmacist, pharmacy intern or trained technician in all Walgreens pharmacies.
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Walgreens has protocols in place to protect you from COVID-19 Immunizers wear disposable surgical masks and face shields while administering vaccinations. Patients are required to wear face covers while receiving their shot.
The Cost Of A Flu Shot Without Insurance
The average cost of a high-dose flu shot without insurance is typically around $70. The CDC private sector cost for a quadrivalent flu shot ranges from $16.94 to $25.76. However, the price you pay may be higher at some locations due to additional fees.
See the chart below for prices at major pharmacies such as CVS, Walmart, Rite Aid, Costco, and Walgreens. If you have not gotten vaccinated this flu season, it is recommended that you get the flu shot as soon as possible.
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Progress With Vaccine Administration
In June 2021, Walgreens U.S. pharmacy segment rolls out plans to extend pharmacy hours of operation each Friday in the month of June for walk-in vaccinations. Per the plan, Walgreens will extend its pharmacy operation hours to offer additional flexibility to individuals who have limited time to get vaccinated. Also, the COVID-19 vaccine is accessible on a walk-in basis in more than 400 Walgreens pharmacies operating for 24 hours across the country.
In April 2021, Walgreens announced the administration of COVID-19 vaccination across 49 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. Walgreens also noted that it has set up nearly 500 COVID-19 vaccine clinics in underserved areas across the country, including locations in California, Illinois, Georgia and Mississippi, with plans for 100 more off-site clinics in partnership with local community organizations.
The Cost Of Other Vaccines
The cost of recommended vaccines varies depending on your insurance plan. If you have private insurance, you will likely get most of the recommended vaccines for free or with a small copayment.
If you are covered by Medicare Part B, you will be able to get some vaccines for little to no cost. The included vaccines are the flu shot, pneumococcal disease vaccine, and the hepatitis B vaccine if you have a pre-existing condition. If you are covered by Medicare part D, you will be able to get the shingles vaccine and the Tdap vaccine for little to no cost.
The cost of vaccines for adults who are covered by Medicaid varies significantly by state. If you are covered by Medicaid, you will likely access a flu shot for little to no cost. If you are not covered by insurance, the out-of-pocket cost of vaccines varies depending on the vaccine type and where you are vaccinated.
Below we outlined the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and private sector costs for some adult vaccines. Note that the prices may be highest due to additional fees at your testing location.
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What Are Other Ways I Can Protect Against The Flu
In addition to your yearly flu vaccine, there are a few other things you can do to protect your family and yourself from the flu. There are daily precautions you can take such as limiting contact with sick people as much as possible and washing your hands with soap and water often. If you have received a prescription for flu antiviral medications, it’s important to take them as directed by your health care provider.
But remember, the number one way to protect you and your family against the flu virus is to get vaccinated every year.
Can I Get A Free Flu Shot
Sometimes, but not always.
If you have insurance, you can get a discounted or free flu shot almost anywhere, including local pharmacies, chain pharmacies and your primary care doctor’s office.
If you go to urgent care, the shot itself might be free or discounted, but you’ll likely have to pay the copay. And at your doctor’s office, they’ll probably offer the shot for free, but you might have to pay for the office visit if it isn’t covered by your insurance — keep these things in mind when weighing your options.
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Where To Get A Flu Shot If You Don’t Have Insurance
If you don’t have insurance, the best place to get a flu shot is usually a pharmacy, according to Rite Aid’s executive vice president of pharmacy and retail operations, Jocelyn Konrad. The cost typically ranges from $30 to $40, but there will be no copay or office visit fee, as there would be if you went to a traditional primary care office.
Some pharmacies offer discounts or promotions to incentivize flu shots, such as CVS’s “$5 off $20” coupon when you get your flu shot.
How Effective Is The Flu Vaccine
The influenza viruses change every year which means that the vaccines do, as well. Experts do their best to match the vaccine to the strains circulating each season. If the match is a good one, the vaccine is typically 40 to 60 percent effective. Even if the vaccine doesnt protect you from getting sick, it will reduce your chances of becoming severely ill.
Experts arent sure why this is, but it probably is linked with the bodys immune reaction to the vaccine, according to a study published in 2018 in Eurosurveillance. Whatever the reason, thats good news, given that between 140,000 and 810,000 people are hospitalized each because of complications from the flu and you dont want to be one of them.
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Walgreens Provides Flu Shots Nationwide For Ages 3 & More
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. WBA recently announced the availability of flu shots for everyone aged three and above at more than 9,000 store locations by walk-in or appointment across the United States. As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, eligible patients will be able to receive both flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine in a single visit.
Walgreens will continue to play a vital role in minimizing the spread of flu and other vaccine-preventable illnesses in convenient locations and through trusted local pharmacists.
Who Should Not Get The Flu Vaccine
Children younger than 6 months are too young to receive a flu vaccine.
If you are interested in the influenza vaccine nasal spray, there are a few more things to know. Because it contains a live virus, you should not get the influenza nasal spray if you are pregnant, have a weakened immune system or are in close contact with persons who have a weakened immune system , or have taken an influenza antiviral medication within the last 48 hours.
Children and adolescents who receive aspirin or salicylate-containing medication should not receive the influenza nasal spray, nor should young children who have experienced an episode of wheezing in the last 12 months or who have been diagnosed with asthma. People with chronic health conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder or diabetes should talk with their health care provider before receiving the influenza nasal spray.
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Walgreens Rolls Out 2021
Walgreens is offering flu shots to all patients 3 years old and older. The chain is offering immunizations at its more than 9,000 stores nationwide as many people return to in-person work, school, travel and social activities, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said may lead to an active flu season.
Measures like social distancing, mask-wearing and increased flu vaccinations contributed to very few flu cases last season, however, as communities return to everyday activities amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, it is critical that people remain diligent about getting their flu vaccine, said Dr. Kevin Ban, Walgreens chief medical officer. Walgreens pharmacy team members have more than a decade of experience administering vaccines and make it easy to get both your flu and COVID-19 vaccinations in one convenient stop.
Walgreens said it was preparing for the co-circulation of the flu and COVID-19 as COVID-19 cases continue to rise. The retailer said it would offer flu and COVID-19 vaccines in a single visit to eligible patients. The Pfizer vaccine has received full Food and Drug Administration approval in patients 16 years old and older and an emergency use authorization still permits it to be used in patients 12 to 15 years old, as well as for a third dose for certain immunocompromised individuals.
What Is Herd Immunity
Another term for herd immunity is “community immunity.” When enough people in a community are vaccinated against a particular virus, the virus won’t be able to easily spread. Some people can’t get vaccinated and others are vaccinated but don’t have strong immune responses. These people are especially vulnerable and rely on herd immunity for protection against diseases. Every time you get vaccinated you are protecting yourself, your family, and your community.
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