# 2339
My annual fu shot, that is.
This year it seems you can't go to a grocery store or pharmacy without finding a flu clinic setup, and a nurse giving shots. While I had planned on getting the vaccine in October- when I saw the clinic, and that there was no line - I rolled up my sleeve.
I know of at least a dozen other places within 5 miles of me that are doing similar clinics. The store where I got my shot has 16 days between now and November when they will be holding the clinic.
The cost? Twenty-five dollars. They do accept Medicare part B, however.
While I stumbled upon this clinic quite serendipitously, there is an online resource you can use to find places that are giving flu shots in your area.
Findaflushot.com allows you to input your zip code, and a radius (I used 5 miles) and a date range (I used today through Nov 28th) and it will provide you with a list of places giving flu shots in your area.
My search returned 11 results.
Of course, these aren't the only locations. This website didn't show the store where I got my shot, only those aligned with Maxim Health Systems. Still, it's a good source.
There are some age restrictions, which vary by state.
This year's flu shot contains three new strains of the influenza virus, and it is hoped it will prove more protective than last year's disappointing vaccine. The last minute emergence of several relatively new flu strains last summer compromised the effectiveness of last year's shot.
This year, the CDC is pushing for more Americans than ever before to get the flu shot. There will be between 143 million and 146 million shots available.
While 261 million Americans fall into the `recommended' category for getting the vaccine this year, it is expected that only about half will seek out the vaccine.
For those with concerns about the inclusion of Thimerosal, a preservative containing 50% Mercury, many places are now offering Thimerosal-free vaccines.
Flu shots are not without controversy, and the effectiveness of these vaccines in elderly recipients has been questioned in the past couple of years.
Some recent studies (here, here, and here) suggest that older patients may not benefit as much from these shots as previously believed. However, more research is still needed, and the recommendation remains that they receive the shot.
Here are the CDC's recommendations for who should receive the flu shot this year.
When to Get Vaccinated
Yearly flu vaccination should begin in September or as soon as vaccine is available and continue throughout the influenza season, into December, January, and beyond. This is because the timing and duration of influenza seasons vary. While influenza outbreaks can happen as early as October, most of the time influenza activity peaks in January or later.
Who Should Get Vaccinated
In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated. However, it is recommended by ACIP that certain people should get vaccinated each year. They are either people who are at high risk of having serious flu complications or people who live with or care for those at high risk for serious complications. During flu seasons when vaccine supplies are limited or delayed, ACIP makes recommendations regarding priority groups for vaccination.
People who should get vaccinated each year are:
- Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday
- Pregnant women
- People 50 years of age and older
- People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
- People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
- People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
a. Health care workers
b. Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
c. Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)
Use of the Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine
It should be noted that vaccination with the nasal-spray flu vaccine is always an option for healthy* people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant.
Who Should Not Be Vaccinated
There are some people who should not be vaccinated without first consulting a physician. These include
- People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
- People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination.
- People who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine.
- Children less than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for this age group), and
- People who have a moderate-to-severe illness with a fever (they should wait until they recover to get vaccinated.)
