Have You Had a Flu Shot Yet?

Have you had a flu shot yet? CVS with its newly opened MinuteClinic, Rite Aid, Publix, Kroger and Walgreens are just some of the local places where you can get a flu shot. You may want to call ahead to ensure that the pharmacy of your choosing carries flu shots.

To find other places to get a flu shot locally, check out:

• Flu Vaccine Finder 
• Flu Shots at Walgreens
• Flu Shots at CVS

Are you guaranteed to get the flu if you don’t get vaccinated against it? Of course not—but here’s why getting a flu vaccine is probably worth your while.

Influenza, or the "flu,” is a contagious respiratory illness caused by viruses infecting the nose, throat and lungs.

Symptoms include muscle or body aches, headaches, cough, sore throat, fatigue, fever or chills, and vomiting and diarrhea (the latter two are more common in kids). The flu can also worsen chronic medical conditions or cause death.

Unfortunately, flu viruses can spread easily via infected people coughing, sneezing or even just talking. Folks are contagious a day before symptoms appear and up to a week after getting sick.

It’s also possible to get the flu by touching something with the flu virus on it and then touching your mouth, eyes or nose.

Officials from the Centers for Disease Control recommend getting vaccinated as early as possible, as it takes a few weeks to reach full immunity.

Have you had a flu shot yet? Do you plan to get one? Let us know in the comments.

Flu shots are an inactivated vaccine made from killed virus, which means it’s impossible to get the flu from the vaccine, explains Dr. Angela Rasmussen, Ph.D, an infectious disease expert.

There are currently three flu shots being produced in the U.S.: the regular (intramuscular) seasonal flu shot, a high-dose vaccine for people 65 and older, and an intradermal (injected into the skin) vaccine for people ages 18 to 64.

A nasal-spray flu vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses (which also do not cause the flu) is also available to healthy people ages 2 to 49 years old, except pregnant women. The most common side effect from a flu shot is soreness at the injection site.

The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and up get an annual flu vaccine. Even if you don’t think you need a flu shot, consider that you can be a flu carrier without feeling sick and spread it to loved ones around you, says Jack Cantlin, a pharmacist and the divisional vice president of retail clinical services at Walgreens.

Folks at greater risk for serious complications from the flu include the elderly, young children, pregnant women and nursing home residents. People with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and chronic lung disease—as well as those who work with them—are also at risk.

“People at high risk should talk with their doctor about getting a high-dose 
flu shot, as this can provide better protection for people with immune
 systems that have been weakened by age or other medical conditions,” says Dr. Rasmussen.

She also recommends asking about the pertussis (whooping cough) vaccination, because a pertussis infection coupled with the flu can cause more severe diseases, especially in young children.

People with severe chicken egg allergies, a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome, and those who have had a severe reaction to a flu vaccine in the past should consult their doctor before getting a flu shot.

People who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever should wait to get vaccinated until they are well. Babies under 6 months of age should not get a flu shot.

In addition to doctors' offices and hospitals, flu shots are readily available at most pharmacies for approximately $20 to $30 
(much of which is generally covered by insurance) and can be given without a prescription.

Many employers and 
community organizations also offer flu shot clinics, and non-profit organizations and local governments may offer vouchers for free shots.