topic Re: It's flu shot time again in Community Chat

It's flu shot time again

puttypiesmom — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 21:50:26 GMT

Me and my husband will once again get our annual flu shot but it was brought to my attention that the multi dose vials contains preservatives because it's well for muli doses while the single dose vials do not contain preservatives. I think I will ask the nurse at my doctor's office to use the single dose vials. Will she have those? Maybe doctors find it more convenient to use the multi dose vials? I also have been made aware that there are single dose syringes too. My next question.....is the trivalent sufficient or should we ask for the quadrivalent? Does anyone know what strain we're dealing with?

Re: It's flu shot time again

suzyQ3 — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 21:53:11 GMT

Wow, very good questions to which I have no clue. I just thought that we'd go to our shot clinic, and that would be that. I'll pay attention to this thread.

Re: It's flu shot time again

puttypiesmom — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 21:54:40 GMT

Thanks @suzyQ3

Re: It's flu shot time again

puttypiesmom — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 22:10:24 GMT

I've been getting a flu shot since I turned 40 (a long time ago) but there were years that the flu struck before I had a chance to get the vaccine. I really hope that doesn't happen this year. Our appt is the first week of October. I may just go somewhere else as I'm feeling anxious about it and don't want to wait.

Re: It's flu shot time again

Nancy Drew — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 22:07:45 GMT

I always get mine the third week in October.

Re: It's flu shot time again

Jordan2 — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 22:10:06 GMT

My mother and I went to CVS and got our flu shots (she gets the one for older people). I got the Shingles vaccine (part 1) ant the end of June. You have to get part 2 of the vaccine between 2-6 months. Well CVS has it on backorder for some time (there seems to be a shortage), I hope I'll get it before my 6 months are over.

Re: It's flu shot time again

SilleeMee — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 22:23:37 GMT

The trivalent has been the traditionally recommended vaccine. But now there is a broader vaccine made to include two strains of Flu-B. So The quad vaccine is the better one to get.

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/quadrivalent.htm

eta - the over-65 high-dose is only available in the trivalent. Correct me if I wrong.

Re: It's flu shot time again

NickNack — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 22:23:07 GMT

@Jordan2 wrote:
My mother and I went to CVS and got our flu shots (she gets the one for older people). I got the Shingles vaccine (part 1) ant the end of June. You have to get part 2 of the vaccine between 2-6 months. Well CVS has it on backorder for some time (there seems to be a shortage), I hope I'll get it before my 6 months are over.

@Jordan2 Make sure CVS has you on their list of people to call when they get the vaccine in. I did that with Kroger for my second shot, and they called me.

I'm getting my flu vaccine tomorrow when I go to the grocery store. I had planned on getting it last week, but when I got there I realized my shirt sleeve wasn't easy to pull up so I had to wait.

Re: It's flu shot time again

puttypiesmom — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 22:31:35 GMT

@NickNackwhen you have it at the grocery store is it out in the open for others to see? I mean how close are the others to you while you're getting it. If someone coughs or sneezes I don't want that flying through the air landing on my shot entrance before the tech has a chance to cover it with cotton and tape or bandaid!

Re: It's flu shot time again

Ladylaughsalot — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 22:42:22 GMT

@puttypiesmom wrote:
@NickNackwhen you have it at the grocery store is it out in the open for others to see? I mean how close are the others to you while you're getting it. If someone coughs or sneezes I don't want that flying through the air landing on my shot entrance before the tech has a chance to cover it with cotton and tape or bandaid!

When I receive my flu immunization at Kroger, I am taken into a small room, next to the pharmacy, to receive the injection. The pharmacist and I are the only people in that room at the time. I would hope that all public stores would do it this way, but I cannot say for sure. It wouldn’t hurt to ask beforehand.

Re: It's flu shot time again

Allegheny — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 22:42:57 GMT

We usually wait (per physician rec) until the later part of October. However, two weeks ago my Ex-SIL posted on Facebook that she tested positive for the flu. She works from home, due to that she has reduced contact with people.

When I told this to our physician at our visit last week he recommended we get the vaccine that day which we did in his office.

Re: It's flu shot time again

BirkiLady — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 23:05:40 GMT

@puttypiesmom Contact your PCP's office (his RN) and ask which is the best flu vaccine for you and your husband. Perhaps it depends upon various health issues.

Re: It's flu shot time again

puttypiesmom — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 23:06:42 GMT

@BirkiLady wrote:
@puttypiesmom Contact your PCP's office (his RN) and ask which is the best flu vaccine for you and your husband. Perhaps it depends upon various health issues.

Good idea, thanks.

@BirkiLady

Re: It's flu shot time again

Jordan2 — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 23:19:31 GMT

@NickNack wrote:
@Jordan2 wrote:
My mother and I went to CVS and got our flu shots (she gets the one for older people). I got the Shingles vaccine (part 1) ant the end of June. You have to get part 2 of the vaccine between 2-6 months. Well CVS has it on backorder for some time (there seems to be a shortage), I hope I'll get it before my 6 months are over.

@Jordan2 Make sure CVS has you on their list of people to call when they get the vaccine in. I did that with Kroger for my second shot, and they called me.

I'm getting my flu vaccine tomorrow when I go to the grocery store. I had planned on getting it last week, but when I got there I realized my shirt sleeve wasn't easy to pull up so I had to wait.

@NickNack, I have been calling once a week to see if they have gotten it in. I never thought to ask if I can get on a list, and CVS hasn't suggested it to me.

Re: It's flu shot time again

SilleeMee — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 23:26:29 GMT

I went to Walgreens to get my flu shot. I'm 63 and the pharmacist told me it was standard procedure to give someone of my age the quadrivalent vaccine. I assume you would have to ask to get the trivalent instead.

Here's some info from the CDC about FAQ regarding the flu this season:

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season-2018-2019.htm

Re: It's flu shot time again

lovesrecess — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 23:30:42 GMT

Yikes! We got our shingles vaccine a year ago and no one said a thing about it being part A of a two part vaccine. I need to call my dr and find out if the first one is any good now. I don't want to have to get it again!

Re: It's flu shot time again

lovesrecess — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 23:39:35 GMT

We have a grocery store pharmacy that now has a private waiting room and then they call you in individually to a smaller room with a chair and even a cot. It is very private and great for someone who may need to lay down after getting the injection....different people respond differently.

Re: It's flu shot time again

suzyQ3 — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 23:38:57 GMT

@lovesrecess wrote:
Yikes! We got our shingles vaccine a year ago and no one said a thing about it being part A of a two part vaccine. I need to call my dr and find out if the first one is any good now. I don't want to have to get it again!

@lovesrecess, is it possible that you were given the older vaccine, which was just one shot? I can't believe a doctor would not make sure that you were aware of a needed second shot.

Re: It's flu shot time again

DiAnne — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 23:42:46 GMT

I am getting my flu shot next week at Costco. I got my shingles shots there also. If you got the first shot there they saved a "second" shot for you. Costco is great!

Re: It's flu shot time again

SilleeMee — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 00:03:26 GMT

@lovesrecess wrote:
Yikes! We got our shingles vaccine a year ago and no one said a thing about it being part A of a two part vaccine. I need to call my dr and find out if the first one is any good now. I don't want to have to get it again!

The older version of the Zostavax vaccine is only a single dose. Check and see if you had that one. The newer vaccine Shingrix has two doses and you can still get them even after you already had the older version. The new one is more effective and is a once-in-a-lifetime 2-part vaccination. @lovesrecess