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Discussion Boards => Off-Topic => Topic started by: belleg1 on September 10, 2010, 08:40:50 am

Title: Flu Shots
Post by: belleg1 on September 10, 2010, 08:40:50 am
What month is best to get a flu shot? My husband and I have to get one now that he has COPD
Title: Re: Flu Shots
Post by: oldbuddy on September 10, 2010, 11:17:19 am
I get one every year as soon as Kaiser has them available.
Title: Re: Flu Shots
Post by: Linda67 on September 10, 2010, 12:56:17 pm
I heard on the news last night that they are available now and it's not to early to get it ;D ;D
Title: Re: Flu Shots
Post by: tuyetmai on September 10, 2010, 01:16:15 pm
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.
Title: Re: Flu Shots
Post by: belleg1 on September 11, 2010, 07:56:23 am
Thank you all so much, have a lovely weekend!
Title: Re: Flu Shots
Post by: angie828 on September 11, 2010, 10:38:46 am
I work with preschoolers so it is in my best interest every year to get one. 
Title: Re: Flu Shots
Post by: belleg1 on September 12, 2010, 06:37:50 am
angie, I'm sure the parents are very grateful for your consideration. Please keep up the good work!
Title: Re: Flu Shots
Post by: mgint on September 13, 2010, 05:39:02 am
the sooner the better they are available at walgreens.
Title: Re: Flu Shots
Post by: vangogh198 on September 13, 2010, 07:57:53 am
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!
Title: Re: Flu Shots
Post by: belleg1 on September 13, 2010, 08:12:04 am
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!
Title: Re: Flu Shots
Post by: jordandog on September 13, 2010, 08:57:20 am
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.... :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Flu Shots
Post by: vangogh198 on September 13, 2010, 09:40:36 am
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! ;D
Title: Re: Flu Shots
Post by: surveydad on September 13, 2010, 10:54:19 am
My Wife, (who is a Teacher) and both my kids have just recieved the flu shot last week  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Flu Shots
Post by: Lindaroof on September 13, 2010, 11:53:32 am
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! :heart:
Title: Re: Flu Shots
Post by: sandiegosurfer on September 13, 2010, 02:52:42 pm
I've never had a flu shot before and I've also never had the flu!
Title: Re: Flu Shots
Post by: harleyy2 on September 13, 2010, 03:22:20 pm
What month is best to get a flu shot? My husband and I have to get one now that he has COPD

@belleg1 - I got my flu shot in August and that flu shot had H1N1 in...actually...NOT a flu shot....a flu mist (nose)
Title: Re: Flu Shots
Post by: bschumacher on September 13, 2010, 03:33:40 pm
Here in Southern CA, they're availible in drugstores. I'm not waiting for Kaiser; I'm a caretaker for my Dad, who has cancer.
Title: Re: Flu Shots
Post by: xcheljd on September 13, 2010, 06:58:03 pm
walgreens has free flu shots or something like that. i saw a commercial about that, by my attention was focused elsewhere so i didn't catch the details
Title: Re: Flu Shots
Post by: Elizabethar on September 15, 2010, 08:09:51 am
I know here in ky you can go to any kroger to get one. I don't know how much they are.
Title: Re: Flu Shots
Post by: clowntattoo on September 15, 2010, 05:47:42 pm
DK... i need one and have never had one before. not looking forward to it
Title: Re: Flu Shots
Post by: bromina6 on November 20, 2010, 08:18:39 pm
My 7 year old had a flu shot and withing days he had croup. Sometimes I wonder if it's worth it.
I know the flu is worse, but it sucks that he suffers through the shot to end up sick anyway.
Title: Re: Flu Shots
Post by: sommap on November 20, 2010, 08:39:19 pm
I got mine through the pharmacy at my grocery store.  No waiting, no lines.  I got the flu one year and was very sick.  Since then, I make sure I get the shot every year. 
Title: Re: Flu Shots
Post by: ejholt on November 21, 2010, 02:35:52 am
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!


I got my flu shot just a few days ago.   I was sick when they first came out so had to wait till I got over my cold before I could ge mine.   I have never had the flu but have had a flu shot every year for years.   
Title: Re: Flu Shots
Post by: Sweetpea94 on November 21, 2010, 10:04:34 am
Many members of my family get them as soon as the shot is available.  I've only gotten the flu shot once in my whole life and that was three and half years ago when I was pregnant with my youngest.  They made me take it and that was in November when the flu season was just kicking in.  I have not gotten sick since having that shot.  I've had few sore throats, but nothing as far as a head cold or the flu, and I use to catch a cold at least twice a year.  I'm not sure if it was the shot or just luck. I probably won't ever get another, because almost everyone I know that gets the shot ends up with the flu afterwards.
Title: Re: Flu Shots
Post by: jcribb16 on November 21, 2010, 10:35:41 am
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.... :thumbsup:
Jordandog, thank you for going above and beyond on your "small novel."  That is a big help for people who may not understand what is in them and exactly when and why you should get them.  Up until 2 years ago, I had to get my flu shots split into 2 parts (the 2nd one was done a week to 2 weeks after the 1st one) because of the allergic reaction to the full dose at once.  Whatever they've done to the shots now have made it possible to have just the one shot now.  Thank goodness, because I hate shots anyway!