[panamachica]

If we are socially distancing and wearing masks why would we need to get a flu shot? Just wondering.

[DonnaNi4os]

I get the flu shot every year but not until early to mid October. Getting it too soon can mean that if the flu arrives late in the season you might not have continuous benefits of being vaccinated. Being vaccinated after mid October doesn’t allow your body to produce enough antibodies to fully protect you should the flu hit early. I have administered hundreds and hundreds of flu vaccines over the years. And remember that if you are allergic to eggs you should not get the flu shot.

[newgirl]

Thank you

[manaboutown]

"Getting vaccinated early (for example, in July or August) is likely to be associated with reduced protection against flu infection later in the flu season, particularly among older adults."

From the CDC. Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine | CDC

[La lamy]

Originally Posted by panamachica

If we are socially distancing and wearing masks why would we need to get a flu shot? Just wondering.

Because social distancing and masks are not a perfect method to stay virus free which I'm sure you've heard by now. I never had a flu shot, so I'm not one to recommend it, but if I was immune compromised I would.

[coconutmama]

Originally Posted by Miguel 1952

Is Shingrix covered by Medicare? TIA

I have Medicare & still paid some of the cost. I forget how much the shot originally was before my payment. Sorry

[Mumbles]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

That's the problem. Vaccines have a shelf life. Each vaccine's shelf life is different. If the demand doesn't meat the availability, they have to destroy the leftovers. It can't be used, at all. That drives the costs up. So they figure out the low-end of what they think they'll need and watch the early trends. If they see the supply running low, they rush to make more. But it still takes time to make more and distribute it all.

I'd personally rather wait a couple months for something, than get it tomorrow and pay another $500 just for the privilege.

Source of your astute knowledge?
Mumbles

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Byte1

"On the other hand" even if the shot is weak and may not even work for this year's flu, it makes folks feel all warm and fuzzy and SAFE, just like some of the worthless masks that I have seen folks wear. Happy people are healthy people.

The vaccine that you refuse to take is 100% guaranteed NOT to work for you. You will have [zero] prevention for this year's flu. And if by chance you happen to get it, you have [zero] chance to reduce the effects of it.

If you do take the vaccine, you have [better than zero] chance that it'll prevent you from getting sick, and if you happen to get sick anyway, you'll have [better than zero] chance that your symptoms will be minimal.

The odds are more in my favor by taking the vaccine, than not taking it. I prefer to hedge my bets. So I'll take the vaccine and hope I don't need it.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Mumbles

Source of your astute knowledge?
Mumbles

Ask the Experts about Influenza Vaccines - CDC experts answer Q&As

How long does immunity from influenza vaccine last?
Protection from influenza vaccine is thought to persist for at least 6 months. Protection declines over time because of waning antibody levels and because of changes in circulating influenza viruses from year to year. For persons who require only 1 dose of influenza vaccine for the season, yearly vaccination (i.e. in July and August) is likely to be associated with suboptimal immunity before the end of the influenza season, particularly among older adults.

Combine with the poster who worked in a pharmacy and said the recent vaccines are good for 9 months. I was erring on the side of generosity rather than caution.

The CDC itself - Frequently Asked Influenza (Flu) Questions: 2020-2021 Season | CDC

While the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has not yet voted on the flu vaccine recommendations for 2020-2021, CDC does not anticipate a major change in the recommendation on timing of vaccination. Getting vaccinated in July or August is too early, especially for older people, because of the likelihood of reduced protection against flu infection later in the flu season. September and October are good times to get vaccinated. However, as long as flu viruses are circulating, vaccination should continue, even in January or later.

More from the CDC, specifically with regards to proper storage of vaccines and expiration dates:

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pi...ac-storage.pdf

There are dozens of sources for this information, but if you've ever actually READ your patient information pamphlet when you got a flu shot in the past, and actually spoke with a pharmacist, or worked in a pharmaceutical company at some point in your life, or learned a little about what a vaccine is made of - you'd already know this information and wouldn't need to cite a source.

Kind of like if you were to claim that the sky is blue and I asked you to cite a source. You don't need to prove that the sky is blue. It IS blue.

[retiredguy123]

Obviously, a lot of pharmacists don't agree with the CDC or they wouldn't be giving flu shots in August. But, it seems somewhat negligent that the flu vaccine is already on the market and the CDC doesn't even have an official recommendation, except to refer to last year's vaccine, which is different from this year.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Obviously, a lot of pharmacists don't agree with the CDC or they wouldn't be giving flu shots in August. But, it seems somewhat negligent that the flu vaccine is already on the market and the CDC doesn't even have an official recommendation, except to refer to last year's vaccine, which is different from this year.

The CDC and the FDA have released the shot effective today. The CDC recommends that certain people wait a month.

For everyone else, it's available.

I'm not seeing any contradiction at all. You just have to read the whole thing, not just the paragraphs that you agree with or want to challenge.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

The CDC and the FDA have released the shot effective today. The CDC recommends that certain people wait a month.

For everyone else, it's available.

I'm not seeing any contradiction at all. You just have to read the whole thing, not just the paragraphs that you agree with or want to challenge.

I do see a contradiction, and don't want to challenge anything. The flu vaccine came out on Thursday, not today. And, as of Thursday, CDC had no official recommendation about who should get it and when. I also didn't see any new guidance on the CDC website today. I called my pharmacist and he recommends getting the shot as soon as possible for people over 65. They have no special guidance about who should wait a month. If you have other guidance, it would be helpful if you can provide a link for your information source, especially about who these "certain people" are who should wait a month?

[Spsmith444]

My wife and I have never had a vaccine. We are not convinced we need them. We have practiced good common sense about what we touch, washing our hands regularly, and staying away from the sick. Now with COVID we see others are now doing for the most part what we have been practicing for years. Are we stupid and lucky?

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I do see a contradiction, and don't want to challenge anything. The flu vaccine came out on Thursday, not today. And, as of Thursday, CDC had no official recommendation about who should get it and when. I also didn't see any new guidance on the CDC website today. I called my pharmacist and he recommends getting the shot as soon as possible for people over 65. They have no special guidance about who should wait a month. If you have other guidance, it would be helpful if you can provide a link for your information source, especially about who these "certain people" are who should wait a month?

I already posted it, quoted the pertinent section, and linked you to the source. Here it is again (the quote):

While the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has not yet voted on the flu vaccine recommendations for 2020-2021, CDC does not anticipate a major change in the recommendation on timing of vaccination. Getting vaccinated in July or August is too early, especially for older people, because of the likelihood of reduced protection against flu infection later in the flu season. September and October are good times to get vaccinated. However, as long as flu viruses are circulating, vaccination should continue, even in January or later.

So, your previous post didn't single out any group, which was why I said that that it wasn't a contradiction for pharmacists to administer the shot early. They do - for some people. And that's what I said.

However, now you're being specific, and referring specifically to your pharmacist saying that older people should get it early. And to that, I say it IS a contradiction to what the CDC recommends, as already posted upthread.

[thelegges]

Don’t ever get them, never had the flu, I’m happy to let someone else have mine