Find A Flu Shot Location Near You
If you have a UnitedHealthcare health plan, you can get a flu shot at more than 50,000 locations.
Enter your ZIP code and select a pharmacy in your area, then select Find my flu shot to see results within a 20-mile radius from the center of your ZIP code.
Please note: If you’re using a screen reader, please select Participating pharmacies, then select a pharmacy to find a location near you.
What Should I Do If I Have Had A Serious Reaction To Seasonal Flu Vaccine
Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it happened, and when you got the flu shot.
Ask your doctor, nurse, or health department to file a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System form, or call VAERS at 1-800-822-7967. Reports are welcome from all concerned individuals: patients, parents, health care providers, pharmacists and vaccine manufacturers.
Seasonal Flu And Covid
COVID-19 and the flu will likely both be spreading this season, according to the CDC. Protecting yourself from the flu with a flu shot helps reduce your risk of serious illness and hospitalization.3 Thats important this year because there continue to be concerns about hospital capacity with the ongoing spread of COVID-19. It may be hard to know if you have COVID-19 or if it may be the flu or a cold, since symptoms are similar. Getting the COVID-19 vaccine and the flu vaccine will give you the best protection. You can even get them at the same time.3 Ask your doctor if you have more questions about how these vaccines can help protect you.
- Those with specific health conditions
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Why We Need New Flu Vaccines Every Year
There are several reasons a new flu vaccine must be made each year.
Flu viruses can change from year to year, so the vaccine is updated to protect against new virus strains that are expected to circulate in the U.S. The vaccine needs to include influenza virus strains that most closely match those in circulation for the influenza season. In addition, the protection provided by the flu vaccine a person received in the previous year will diminish over time and may be too low to prevent influenza disease into next years flu season.
When Should I Get Vaccinated Against Flu
Its best to be vaccinated before flu begins spreading in your community. September and October are generally good times to be vaccinated against flu. Ideally, everyone should be vaccinated by the end of October. However, even if you are not able to get vaccinated until November or later, vaccination is still recommended because flu most commonly peaks in February and significant activity can continue into May.
Additional considerations concerning the timing of vaccination for certain groups include:
- Adults, especially those 65 years and older, should generally not get vaccinated early because protection may decrease over time, but early vaccination can be considered for any person who is unable to return at a later time to be vaccinated.
- Children can get vaccinated as soon as vaccine becomes available, even if this is in July or August. Some children need two doses of flu vaccine. For those children it is recommended to get the first dose as soon as vaccine is available, because the second dose needs to be given at least 4 weeks after the first.
- Early vaccination can also be considered for people who are in the third trimester of pregnancy, because this can help protect their infants during the first months of life .
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What Is The Difference Between A Third Dose And Booster Dose Of Covid
A booster shot is for people who likely had a fulsome immune response to the regular two-dose vaccine regimen, but with time, the immunity and clinical protection has fallen below a rate deemed sufficient to protect against COVID-19 infection. A booster dose should be offered 22 weeks after completing the primary series and a second booster dose is recommended for certain individuals 20 weeks after their first booster dose.
A third dose is for people who may not have developed a strong enough immune response to fight off COVID-19 after two doses. For example, evidence suggests that compared to the general population, individuals who are moderately to severely immunocompromised have lower immune responses to COVID-19 vaccines. The third dose should be offered at least 28 days after the second dose.
The Flu Shot Is Your Best Defence
This years flu season is taking place at the same time as COVID-19. Dont take any unnecessary risks with your health. Get the flu shot as early in the season as possible.
The flu shot is recommended for everyone 6 months old and older. It is:
- safe
- free
- available from your doctor or nurse practitioner, and at participating pharmacies and local public health units across the province
- proven to reduce the number of doctor visits, hospitalizations and deaths related to the flu
- different each year because the virus changes frequently so you need to get it every fall
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Should I Receive A Second Booster Dose
Latest evidence suggests vaccine effectiveness against infection with COVID-19 is decreasing over time following the first booster dose. Based on NACI recommendations, in Newfoundland and Labrador, second booster doses will be offered to those individuals who are:
- Aged 50 years and older
- Living in a congregate living setting for seniors or
- Aged 18 years and older who identify as Indigenous or live in a remote or isolated Indigenous community.
Individuals in the above groups will be eligible for a second booster dose when at least 20 weeks has passed since their first booster dose.
Can I Get A Covid
Primary Series
People who had COVID-19 can get a COVID-19 vaccine, including a first or second dose. If you are 6 months to 29 years of age, there should be at least 8 weeks between your first and second dose. If you are 30 years or older, there should be at least 28 days between your first and second dose . Before vaccination, you should be considered recovered, and your symptoms should be completely resolved. To boost your immune response, you can wait at least 8 weeks after your recovery before getting a first or second dose. You can talk with your health care provider about the best time to receive your next dose.
Booster Doses
People who had COVID-19 can get a COVID-19 vaccine, including a first or second booster dose. Your first booster should be administered at least 22 weeks after completion of your primary series. Your second booster should be given at least 20 weeks after your first booster dose. Before vaccination, you should be considered recovered, and your symptoms should be completely resolved. To boost your immune response, you can wait at least 3 months after your recovery before getting a booster dose. You can talk with your health care provider about the best time to receive your next dose.
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Why Should My Child Get A Flu Vaccine
- Reduces the risk of flu illness and hospitalization among children.
- Shown to be life-saving for children.
- Can make illness less severe among people who get vaccinated but still get sick with flu.
- Reduces the risk of illness, which can keep your child from missing school or childcare and you from having to miss work.
- Reduces the high risk of developing serious flu complication especially if your child is younger than 5 years, or of any age with certain chronic conditions.
- Helps prevent spreading flu to family and friends, including babies younger than 6 months who are too young to get a flu vaccine.
Is Flu Illness Serious
Millions of children get sick with flu each year and thousands are hospitalized. CDC estimates that since 2010, between 7,000 and 28,000 children younger than 5 years old have been hospitalized for flu each year in the United States. Children with chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, and disorders of the brain or nervous system, and children younger than 5 years old are more likely to end up in the hospital from flu.
Some people at high risk can develop complications that can result in hospitalization and even death.
Flu seasons vary in how serious they are from one season to another. Since 2010, CDC estimates that between 130 and 1,200 children have died from flu each year.
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How Do Flu Vaccines Work
Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies provide protection against infection with circulating influenza viruses.
Seasonal flu vaccines are designed to protect against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. All flu vaccines in the United States are quadrivalent vaccines, which means they protect against four different flu viruses: an influenza A virus, an influenza A virus, and two influenza B viruses.
What Is The Flu
The flu, or seasonal influenza, is a common contagious infection. The flu affects the nose, throat, and lungs. It is spread through droplets that have been coughed or sneezed by someone who has the flu. You can get the flu by shaking hands with someone who has the flu or by touching surfaces that have come into contact with flu droplets, and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Flu symptoms include a sudden fever or feeling feverish as well as a cough and/or a sore throat. It is common to also have a runny or stuffy nose, headache or body aches, and chills. You may feel more tired than usual and have a lower appetite. Some people also have nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. Most people will recover within a week to 10 days, but some people are at greater risk of severe complications, such as pneumonia or death. Influenza infection can also worsen certain chronic conditions, such as heart disease. According to the National Advisory Committee on Immunization , there are approximately 3,500 deaths related to influenza on average each year in Canada.
NACI recommends people six months of age and over receive the flu vaccine each year, especially:
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Who Can Have The Flu Vaccine
The flu vaccine is given free on the NHS to people who:
- are 50 and over
- have certain health conditions
- are pregnant
- are in long-stay residential care
- receive a carer’s allowance, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be at risk if you get sick
- live with someone who is more likely to get infections
- frontline health or social care workers
Vaccine Supply And Distribution
How much influenza vaccine is projected to be available for the 2021-2022 influenza season?
Flu vaccine is produced by private manufacturers, so supply depends on manufacturers. Vaccine manufacturers have projected that they will supply the United States with as many as 188 million to 200 million doses of influenza vaccine for the 2021-2022 season. These projections may change as the season progresses. All flu vaccines for the 2021-2022 season will be quadrivalent . Most will be thimerosal-free or thimerosal-reduced vaccine and about 18% of flu vaccines will be egg-free.
Where can I find information about vaccine supply?
Special Consideration Regarding Egg Allergy
People with egg allergies can receive any licensed, recommended age-appropriate influenza vaccine that is otherwise appropriate. People who have a history of severe egg allergy should be vaccinated in a medical setting, supervised by a health care provider who is able to recognize and manage severe allergic reactions. Two completely egg-free flu vaccine options are available: quadrivalent recombinant vaccine and quadrivalent cell-based vaccine.
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Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine
On June 30, 2022, CDC announced that Director Rochelle P. Walensky adopted the Decision memo approving the ACIP vote for a preferential recommendation for the use of higher dose or adjuvanted flu vaccines over standard-dose unadjuvanted flu vaccines for adults 65 years and older. CDCs full recommendations for the use of flu vaccines during 2022-2023 will appear in a forthcoming Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Edits to this page are also forthcoming. More information can be found online: CDC Director Adopts Preference for Specific Flu Vaccines for Seniors
Note: Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices United States, 2021-2022 Influenza Season has been . More information on the 2021-2022 season is also available.
Can I Get A Booster Dose
A booster dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine can be offered 22 weeks after completion of the primary series.
Latest evidence suggests vaccine effectiveness against infection with COVID-19 is decreasing over time following completion of the primary series. Based on NACI recommendations, in Newfoundland and Labrador, COVID-19 booster doses are available for all individuals ages 12 years and older when at least 22 weeks has passed since completion of their primary series. As an example, if you received your second dose on September 25, 2021, you can book your booster dose on or after February 26, 2022.
Immunocompromised individuals can be offered a booster dose when at least 22 weeks has passed since they received their third dose, meaning they will have a total of four doses.
Some individuals may be eligible for a second booster dose when at least 20 weeks has passed since their first booster dose. If you are immunocompromised and also eligible for a second booster dose you should receive a total of five doses.
If you are 18 years of age or older and you are unable or unwilling to receive an mRNA vaccine as your booster dose, a recombinant protein subunit vaccine may be offered as a booster dose.
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Flu Vaccine For People With Long
The flu vaccine is offered free on the NHS to anyone with a serious long-term health condition, including:
- a learning disability
- problems with your spleen, for example, sickle cell disease, or if you have had your spleen removed
- a weakened immune system as the result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or taking medicines such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy
Talk to your doctor if you have a long-term condition that is not in one of these groups. They should offer you the flu vaccine if they think you’re at risk of serious problems if you get flu.
Can Severe Problems Occur
Life-threatening allergic reactions to flu shots are very rare. Signs of serious allergic reaction can include breathing problems, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heartbeat, or dizziness. If they do occur, it is usually within a few minutes to a few hours after receiving the shot. These reactions can occur among persons who are allergic to something that is in the vaccine, such as egg protein or other ingredients. While severe reactions are uncommon, you should let your doctor, nurse, clinic, or pharmacist know if you have a history of allergy or severe reaction to influenza vaccine or any part of flu vaccine.
There is a small possibility that flu vaccine could be associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome, generally no more than 1 or 2 cases per million people vaccinated. This is much lower than the risk of severe complications from flu, which can be prevented by flu vaccine.
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Whos Most At Risk Of Getting The Flu
Typically, children and older people are most at risk of getting sick with influenza. The best way to protect babies who are too young to be vaccinated is to make sure people around them are vaccinated. Occasionally, a flu virus will circulate that disproportionately affects young and middle-age adults.
You also can reduce the spread of the flu and its effects by taking such practical measures as washing your hands, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home when youre sick.
The FDA has approved numerous vaccines for the prevention of influenza. But if you do get the flu, there are FDA-approved antiviral drugs, available by prescription, to treat your illness. There are several FDA-approved antiviral drugs recommended by the CDC for use against circulating influenza viruses. These drugs work best if started soon after the onset of symptoms .
Isolation Precaution Guidance For Nmems Fire And Law Enforcement
- If signs or symptoms of acute febrile respiratory illness are not present, proceed with normal EMS care with standard precautions.
- If the patient exhibits signs and symptoms of an acute febrile respiratory illness, standard precautions PLUS droplet precautions should be used for all direct patient care activities.
Aerosol-generating procedures:
- When medically essential, all EMS personnel engaged in aerosol generating activities should utilize fit-tested disposable N95 masks OR powered air purifying respirator , disposable non-sterile gloves, eye protection , and gown.
Consult with your medical director regarding modifications or changes to treatment protocol/guidelines that may be required.
Infection Control Precautions During Transport
- Place a surgical mask on the patient. If this is not possible, have the patient cover mouth/nose with tissue when coughing or use another practical method to contain cough Note: Small facemasks are available that can be worn by children, but it may be problematic for children to wear them correctly and consistently. No facemasks or respirators have been cleared by the FDA specifically for use by children.
- If you transport the patient with acute febrile respiratory illness, keep the windows of your vehicle open and set the heating and air-conditioning systems on a non-recirculating cycle.
- Notify the receiving healthcare facility so that appropriate infection control precautions may be taken prior to patient arrival.
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