Its Flu Shot Time

[Beaglemom3]

Please take the Shingles vaccine by itself and don't book anything important for about three days aftewards
There are some expected side effects and I experienced them.
So read up and make your appointment, but not before a trip, wedding, softball tournament, etc.


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[raygo123]

Please take the Shingles vaccine by itself and don't book anything important for about three days aftewards
There are some expected side effects and I experienced them.
So read up and make your appointment, but not before a trip, wedding, softball tournament, etc.


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The shingles vaccine is a live virus, hence the side effects. I cannot get it due to my kidney transplant.
Would check with doctor before going to a drug store to get it. Live viruses are nothing to play with.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

[Beaglemom3]

The shingles vaccine is a live virus, hence the side effects. I cannot get it due to my kidney transplant.
Would check with doctor before going to a drug store to get it. Live viruses are nothing to play with.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

Agree.

As an adult nurse practitioner (still maintain NP license), I always recommend taking the shot in a dedicated health care setting; clinic, doctor's office, hospital outpatient setting instead of a drug store or department store clinic whenever possible.

ETA: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/patient-ed/adults/downloads/fs-shingles.pdf

https://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/z/zostavax/zostavax_pi2.pdf

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[Fern Modena]

My bad. I knew, but forgot to mention that the Shingles shot is a live virus. I knew because I couldn't get mine while Jerry was being treated for leukemia.

As for not getting the shot at the drugstore, etc., about the only way you can get a shingles shot is at a drugstore. Doctors around here don't give them because they are so expensive to keep in stock. And none of the doctors around here have the senior flu shot. My doctor specifically told me to go elsewere for it. But I did get the doctor's advice, since he is the one who told me to get the senior version of the shot.

Fern

 

[Passepartout]

I got my shingles vaccine at the state health department immunization clinic. The have a one-day-a-week clinic for kids, travel immunizations, shingles, flu, pneumonia, etc. price is either covered by insurance, or for low income uninsured people, it's a sliding scale. Or it was (in pre-ACA days) when I got mine. It's worth a call to your health department if you have one handy.

I feel better going there instead of a hallway in the back of the grocery store pharmacy by the produce coolers.

Jim

 

[sun starved Gayle]

The same day I got the shingles vaccine, I got stung by a bee on the same arm. Both sites got very red and enlarged. I am wondering if the bee sting could interfere with the vaccines effectiveness. Guess that is a question for my MD next time I go.

 

[Maple_Leaf]

My 97 year old mother has never had a flu shot and has never had the flu.

She was born during the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic. Perhaps she has a bullet-proof immune system because of that. That doesn't mean the rest of us do.

 

[Roger830]

She was born during the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic. Perhaps she has a bullet-proof immune system because of that. That doesn't mean the rest of us do.

She did mention being born in June during the 1918 flu. She had 5 older siblings and nobody in the family had the flu.She eats good food and takes vitamins.

 

[Luanne]

Agree.

As an adult nurse practitioner (still maintain NP license), I always recommend taking the shot in a dedicated health care setting; clinic, doctor's office, hospital outpatient setting instead of a drug store or department store clinic whenever possible.

https://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/z/zostavax/zostavax_pi2.pdf

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I so wish I could do this. My doctor's office rarely has the flu vaccine in stock. My prescription coverage only works if I use CVS. So, I'm kind of stuck with using CVS for flu shots.

 

[Fern Modena]

The grocery store's pharmacy has a small waiting room and injection room next to the pharmacy. And to forestall any other questions, no, the box boy didn't give me the shots. A pharmacist did.

Fern

I got my shingles vaccine at the state health department immunization clinic. The have a one-day-a-week clinic for kids, travel immunizations, shingles, flu, pneumonia, etc. price is either covered by insurance, or for low income uninsured people, it's a sliding scale. Or it was (in pre-ACA days) when I got mine. It's worth a call to your health department if you have one handy.

I feel better going there instead of a hallway in the back of the grocery store pharmacy by the produce coolers.

Jim

 

[Beaglemom3]

I am wary of using pharmacies located in department stores, grocery stores, pharmacies, etc. for anything but flu shots.

The reason is that should one have an immediate reaction, be it anaphylaxis or vasovagal, it's best to be in a medical setting with expert medical care from many hands. Privacy issues, too.

I have seen this several times over a long career and was glad that we had a crash cart with intervention by MDs, NPs, RNs and LPNs in our office.

My professional opinion. YMMV.

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[Luanne]

The grocery store's pharmacy has a small waiting room and injection room next to the pharmacy. And to forestall any other questions, no, the box boy didn't give me the shots. A pharmacist did.

Fern

Much better than my experiences at CVS.

First time I got a shot there the "partition" was a bunch of packages of paper towels piled up to form a wall.

The young lady who gave me the shot (I don't think she was a pharmacist) gave the shot then proceeded to dab at my arm with a tiny bit of cotton. She asked "Do you always bleed so much when you get a shot?" My answer "No". Usually when I've gotten a shot they've slapped on a bandage large enough to stop any bleeding there might be.

After that experience I checked all over to find someplace else I could get the shot. That was when I found out that unless I wanted to pay out of pocket, CVS was it. Last year's experience was better. Still not much privacy, but it was a pharmacist who gave the shot, and I didn't bleed "so much".

 

[silentg]

Is the shingle shot a one time thing or do you need one every year?

 

[Beaglemom3]

Is the shingle shot a one time thing or do you need one every year?

One time.

There is talk about a booster in development (I work in big Pharma), but nothing on the horizon.

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[bogey21]

As an adult nurse practitioner (still maintain NP license), I always recommend taking the shot in a dedicated health care setting; clinic, doctor's office, hospital outpatient setting instead of a drug store or department store clinic whenever possible.

I can't say you are wrong. In fact there is no doubt what you say is right. I have, however, gotten all my shots over the last 15 or 20 years at my local Kroger. Two reasons. First, the pharmacist isn't in a hurry and explains the pros, cons and risks with me before administering the shot. Second, at my request they always let me check out the shot before unwrapping it. That assures me I am actually getting the shot I want, particularly the High Dose version of the flu shot.

George

 

[Beaglemom3]

Shingles Vaccine: My post-injection side effects were expected ones, but still not pleasant.

1. Redness, swelling, heat, soreness, itching at the injection site. It is given SC/subcutaneously in the upper arm/triceps region.

2. The headache. I had a "flu like" frontal headache for about 3 days.

3. The "wonkiness" for 2-3 days.

Others may sail through it, but I did not and I usually do fine with immunizations except for TDaP or TD.

Still, I am glad I had it and would do it again. Suffer a little, gain a lot.
Much better to reduce the risk of Shingles, an awful, painful, debilitating condition.

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[wackymother]

Our insurance company has a relationship with Rite-Aid, and the flu shots we get there are free for us. We go to one particular close-by Rite-Aid, and we've had all good experiences. And our children's pediatrician has her office across the street!

Ask your insurance company if they have a similar preferred provider.

 

[John Cummings]

My wife and I will be getting our flu shots in the next couple weeks. We get our flu shots at our Doctor's office.

Last year we had the flu and pneumonia shots at our doctor's office and the shingles vaccine at Walgreens. The Walgreens pharmacist came outside to give me my shingles vaccine in my car so I wouldn't have to walk in.

Neither one of us had any effects from the shingles vaccine.

 

[bobpark56]

Get the flu shot

The reason to get a flu shot is not so much to protect you, as it is to help prevent flu from spreading and becoming an epidemic. Those who don't get a flu shot are being sell-centered.

 

[geekette]

I so wish I could do this. My doctor's office rarely has the flu vaccine in stock. My prescription coverage only works if I use CVS. So, I'm kind of stuck with using CVS for flu shots.

You aren't stuck. The shot costs, what, $20? For that, go where you like, don't let insurance make your decisions for you.

 

[geekette]

The age for shingles vaccine has dropped to 50. The shingles vaccine was approved for those 50 and over in March of 2011. I was told this last time I was at my MD's and got the vaccine.

Good, they needed to do that. My first case of shingles was at age 18 and that one scarred me. I have had it several times since then and still far from age 60.

 

[Luanne]

You aren't stuck. The shot costs, what, $20? For that, go where you like, don't let insurance make your decisions for you.

My husband paid $54 for his flu shot. When I checked around last year I was quoted around that price to get one. So in my area, no it's not $20.

And really it's not that bad to get the shot at CVS. I was just whining.

My first choice is always the doctor's office. But they often don't have the serum available.

 

[geekette]

My husband paid $54 for his flu shot. When I checked around last year I was quoted around that price to get one. So in my area, no it's not $20.

And really it's not that bad to get the shot at CVS. I was just whining.

My first choice is always the doctor's office. But they often don't have the serum available.

This is the annoying part - why don't doctor's offices have it?? Do they not order enough or not even in line for it? Each year, we hear the same thing: my doctor didn't have it. Anyone with insight??

Whining is fine I don't think I'd want to get shot beside wall of paper towels by someone that doesn't administer shots for a living. Bad enough to get the new phlebotomist when donating blood (good thing bloodmobile chairs are made for passing out in).

aye, area differences, I see signs around here for $10-20. I would pay $54 and a lot more to not get the flu.

Still, my point was more in that people have choices beyond what their insurance covers. Every time I hear someone say "they can't have" something because insurance won't cover it, I like to remind that insurance is not final say over one's life choices. I have rarely had chiropractic coverage, for example, but I go see a chiropractor anyway because it makes me feel better and the $ is worth it to me. Not worth suffering just because insurance won't cover it.

I won't change doctors, either, when insurance changes. It's worth it to me to stick with someone I know and trust (so far 25 years with this guy). To me it's worth it, maybe not to others. I can afford to absorb a premium in order to get the care I want from my chosen providers. Even when I couldn't afford it, I didn't want to start all over just because new insurer has a different list. So many jobs and insurance plans ... one primary care doctor. I choose continuity of care over economy.

One can have any treatment they want, it's simply a matter of who pays for it. Curious as to what flu shot costs in dr office? Also copay to be paid? never had one there. For many many years now, a visiting nurse service administers at my employer site and these days I head over to employee care center for vax and medcheck type stuff, free. Yes, I am luckier than many, and grateful for it.

 

[presley]

I was surprised to find out that I can't get it from my doctor. The medical group holds Flu shot clinics and my office only does appointments on Saturdays. Since I'm busy the next few Saturdays, I walked into Walgreens and asked if they could do a walk in shot. They did and they said I didn't have a co-pay. I guess vaccines are part of my coverage. Even if they weren't, I think the cost was around $30.

 

[Luanne]

Just got back from getting my flu shot.....at CVS, with no copay. This year no row of paper towels, no privacy at all. Guess it's a good thing I could push my sleeve up and not have to take my shirt half way off as I've had to do at times in the past. :ignore:

One reason I was not willing to go elsewhere, and pay, is because I already pay for my medical, and prescription drug, coverage. I'm not going to pay more out of pocket when I can get the shot "free". If the shot wasn't covered at all, yes I would pay for it.