The Advantage Blog


Why Almost Everyone Should Get A Flu Shot

 

Annual Flu Shots Recommended for Almost All
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends annual influenza vaccination for everyone 6 months of age and older. The influenza vaccine has prevented millions of flu cases and tens of thousands of related hospitalizations, according to the CDC.

The vaccine doesn’t guarantee 100 percent that you won’t get influenza, but even if you do get the flu after being vaccinated your illness is likely to be milder.

Dispelling the #1 Myth
One of the most common myths is that you can get influenza from the flu shot. The vaccine will not make you sick. Because it takes a week or two for the vaccine to take hold in your body, if you happen to get sick almost immediately after getting a flu shot, you already had the virus.

Soreness, redness, tenderness or swelling, where the shot was given, are the most common side effects from the influenza shot. Low-grade fever, headache and muscle aches also may occur.

Flu Shots Protect Children and Older Adults

According to the Harvard School of Public Health, 20 to 30 percent of people who carry the influenza virus never experience flulike symptoms. If though you may not feel or appear sick, you can still spread the virus.

Flu can be a serious disease, particularly among young children, older adults, and people with certain chronic health conditions, such as asthma, heart disease or diabetes.

Babies under six months who can’t get the flu shot are more susceptible to the flu than adults. As a result infants and toddlers are more likely to be hospitalized or even die from influenza. Don’t take chances with other’s health. Get vaccinated.

Flu Shots Minimize Time Off Work
An estimated 111 million workdays are lost to the flu each year, adding up to $7 billion worth of lost productivity. For many missing work also means taking home a smaller paycheck.

Trying to go to work when you are sick can expose your coworkers to the flu virus. Working from home will protect your co-workers, but as bad as most people feel when they have the flu, you are not likely to get much done.

Flu Shots Are Readily Available and Inexpensive
A number of places around every community now offer flu shots. It has become very easy to find a place that provides flu shots. You can even get them when you visit your local drug store.

Many employers arrange to bring healthcare providers to their workplace to make it convenient for their employees to get vaccinated.

Seeing a doctor is not required unless you have a serious medical condition or a severe egg allergy which can cause serious problems if the flu vaccine has been manufactured using eggs. There are vaccines produced using cellular technologies, and not incubated in eggs, that someone with an egg allergy can safely take.

Flu shots are also very affordable, usually around $20 – $35. Some insurance plans cover the shots or apply them toward your deductible. Overall the cost is low to protect your family and others from an illness that can be very serious for many.

Mitchell Agency Hosting Flu Shot Clinic
Custom Plus Pharmacy will be offering flu shots on Thursday, October 13 from 9 am to 11 am at the Mitchell Agency offices located at 2800 Ferry Street.

We will be offering the Quadviralent* flu shot that covers four flu strains compared to some flu shots that just cover three. Cost of the flu shot is $35 and payment can be made with cash or credit card.

We’re sorry but we do not process insurance claims for on-site flu clinics. We are happy to process your insurance at our pharmacy.  You can just stop by Custom Plus Pharmacy Monday through Friday 9 am to 6 pm or Saturday 9 am to 1 pm. If you have questions, please feel free to email us at [email protected] or please give our nurse Fran Cox a call at 765-463-2600.

* Quadrivalent – four viruses that research suggests will be most common. We administer Flucelvax Quadrivalent. This flu vaccine is made using cell culture technology, which does not rely on eggs for manufacturing. It is also antibiotic, preservative, and latex free, and it helps protect against 4 strains for the flu in people aged 4 years and older.  http://www.flucelvax.com .