Flu Shots

[belleg1]

What month is best to get a flu shot? My husband and I have to get one now that he has COPD

[oldbuddy]

I get one every year as soon as Kaiser has them available.

[Linda67]

I heard on the news last night that they are available now and it's not to early to get it

[tuyetmai]

What month is best to get a flu shot? My husband and I have to get one now that he has COPD

I think they have available from August till December if I'm not mistaken.  If you want you can have it now if you want.

[belleg1]

Thank you all so much, have a lovely weekend!

[angie828]

I work with preschoolers so it is in my best interest every year to get one. 

[belleg1]

angie, I'm sure the parents are very grateful for your consideration. Please keep up the good work!

[mgint]

the sooner the better they are available at walgreens.

[vangogh198]

I don't think the actual month matters much, but the sooner the better.  Since your husband is in need of one, he'll probably be close to the front of the line with infants and elderly.

Good luck!

[belleg1]

So, I wonder about the price this year after the shortage last year, will they want an arm or a leg with your insurance card? Hope it's not a leg since I only have one left, but the feeling of security from illness is worth more than anything else. Stay well everyone!

[jordandog]

I am required to get one (Nurse Practioner in hospital) and will get my first one this week. It is actually a 3-strain combination this year. If you get it too early, you can lose some immunity if a bad flu bug hits later in the season, but you are still protected to some extent. It takes about 2 weeks for you to acquire immunity and historically, February is the worst month for influenza outbreaks. I urge anyone with small children over 6 months old, older people (and those of us over 50), or anyone with health complications, like the COPD mentioned above, to get it. Anyone who has a serious medical condition that should NOT receive it will already know that. They can NEVER nail down exactly what particular strain will hit, the vaccines are usually 50-90% effective, but it's better to be protected than not. Just make sure you tell your physician, or whoever gives it to you, if you have had a cold, any type of respiratory illness, or anything that caused you to have a fever recently. This will preclude you from getting one right then, but you can wait a certain amount of time and come back - they will tell you when depending on how recently you were sick and what type of illness you had. There is also a new one this year, for those who are 65 and older, called Fluzone High-Dose. Kids still need to get follow-up boosters, just like in the past.

There are some other things you will be asked before you get one and please make sure you do NOT ignore the question about an allergic reaction to chicken eggs. The vaccines are still cultured in egg proteins, even the nasal mist one. Most of you know whether you have had complications or shouldn't get the vaccine, but I am always concerned with the various in-store clinics, the drive-thru clinics - anything outside your doctors office or Health Department because sometimes things move so fast that possible problems can be overlooked. So, that's my 'small novel' on the subject. Please be responsibe and go out and get that vaccine. It is NOT a conspiracy on the part of the drug companies - flu can and will kill us!

Disclaimer: If you get sick, do not blame it one me....

[vangogh198]

belleg1:  The price is usually very reasonable.  I know where I'm from (SLC, Utah) they offer them at local grocery stores, drug stores, and clinics for people who aren't even insured for about $10-$15.  Very reasonable and very worth it. 

If you have insurance, most likely it should be covered if you get it at your family practitioner.  And as always, young children and elderly are usually the first ones they let have them.  I don't think there is a shortage this year, at least from what I've heard.

Try googling flu shots for your local area.  I can almost guarantee a ton of stuff, reasonably priced, will come up.

Good luck!

[surveydad]

My Wife, (who is a Teacher) and both my kids have just recieved the flu shot last week 

[Lindaroof]

We make sure to get ours every year, my husband and I got our a week ago, the sooner you get them the sooner your body will be ready to defend against those nasty bugs!

[sandiegosurfer]

I've never had a flu shot before and I've also never had the flu!