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The CDC reports that 80,000 Americans died of flu and its complications last winter. My wife and I went to CVS last week and got our flu shots as we do each year. So have you made time to get yours yet? Why this matter even more in 2019.
Reports are that this season is going to be especially bad for us. Thus I am again re-posting, with help from a reader who is also an MD, a post we all should consider NOW!
Hi Dr. Julien, hey thanks for taking the time to help with this post.
Nice to hear from you, René.
Do you get one each year yourself?
Yes. Flu vaccines are extremely safe as long as you’re not allergic to them or have a previous history of Guillain-Baré syndrome. Generally speaking, any healthcare provider offering flu shots should always go through a list of contraindications before injecting.
Some of the places I called here in Indiana seemed to indicate I was jumping the gun in getting my shot already. Can you get it too soon, that is too early? Is it better to wait?
No, the sooner the better. There is a two-week delay between injection and immunity. The CDC recommends to get vaccinated before the end of October (emphasis mine).
Also, you might wanna know that there are two types of flu vaccines: trivalent and quadrivalent. Trivalent vaccines protect from three different strains (usually two A viruses and one B virus) and quadrivalent vaccines protect from four different strains (two A and two B). It’s impossible to know in advance which strains are going to be endemic in a specific region of the world. I would certainly encourage travelers to get a quadrivalent vaccine as they are more likely to encounter different types of flu viruses (as long as it doesn’t mean delaying your flu shot; in which case, simply go for a trivalent.) On the US market, French pharmaceutical Sanofi-Pasteur markets a quadrivalent vaccine called Fluzone whereas British competitor Glaxo-Smithkline markets Fluarix which is also quadrivalent. Both are single-dose injections with excellent records of safety. Also, Maryland-based pharmaceutical MedImmune offers an inhaled quadrivalent vaccine called FluMist. FluMist is an excellent option especially if you want to avoid an injection. However, it is significantly more expensive and lots of insurance plans won’t cover it or might just cover it for children.
That is just what I needed to hear. Thanks so much for your input Dr. Julien and for being here for me and other RenésPoints™ readers on the blog.
Happy to be of service, René
Now clearly, even though Dr. Julien is an MD, you should always make your own decisions as to any kind of healthcare. Neither of us is telling you what to do. Having said that, I would love some reader feedback. But if you do, make sure to use a points card that pays you bonus points at places like CVS etc!
How many of you get a flu vaccine each year? Do you like to go as early as possible or before a long trip or flying internationally? Do you not get them for some reason? Please take the time to comment on the blog and share with us all! – René
Cover photo credit: ©iStock.com/Nastco
Advertiser Disclosure: Eye of the Flyer, a division of Chatterbox Entertainment, Inc., is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers. Compensation may impact how and where card products appear on the site. This site does not include all card companies or all available card offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. Some of the links on this page are affiliate or referral links. We may receive a commission or referral bonus for purchases or successful applications made during shopping sessions or signups initiated from clicking those links.
Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Have received the flus shot every year since 1988. Get the shot as early as possible. Get it because I came down with a serious case of flu in 1987 which lasted about 5 weeks and I am in a high risk group (asthma).
Many stores give you a $10 gift card if you get your flu shot with them!! Target is a good place to get your Flu/Shingles/Pneumovax and TDEP(grandparents)
Aluminum, formaldehyde and/or mercury from the shot build up in your brain and central nervous system. Five or more flu shots doubles your chances of getting Alzheimer’s.
No thanks.
@Mike McClean – Uhh… NO! See (and just about any other reputable sources) alzdiscovery.org for the facts!
I got my shot at Walgreens and there were two offers. I think one something like spend $10 the day of the shot and get an additional $10 to spend the same a day, and another was something like spend $20 within a week and get another $10. I used the first offer and did not use the second. The Target deal sounds better to me, so I will check out Target next year.
I am not sure how I feel about these offers since they are probably funded by our health care policies. Years ago, windshield repair companies in the Twin Cities would give a decent gift if you selected their shop to repair your windshield using auto insurance. A box of frozen steaks was a common gift. The insurance companies finally cracked down on the practice.