Flu Shots Now Available
 

Flu shots are now available. I got mine yesterday at Publix. It may be a little early, but I figured that they may become harder to get than toilet paper was a few months ago. Also, there was a severe shortage of the Shingrix vaccine last year. Who is getting the flu shot?

We will figure we will wait for our next DR appt in October assuming it is a real visit.

We will get ours the next time a Rx is due to pick up.

My wife got shot one of Shingrix this week at Walgreens. Good Rx coupon saved us $27.00. The pharmacist said the flu shots were arriving this week. I think this year sooner is better for getting the flu shot. BTW, the pharmacist said it's safe to get Shingrix, then flu shot, then Shingrix 2, and still be able to get a Covid vaccination when they become available.

Did you check that no tracking device was injected at the same time?
Can't be to carefull these days!!:icon_wink:

As I understand it flu shots are effective only over a certain time span so I usually get mine in late September. Last year I got a pneumonia shot at the same time. No problem.

This is what I also heard. Would love for a doctor/retired doctor to comment on this. I usually get my flu shot Oct. 1; I didn’t think about possible shortages.

SHORTAGES?
Who said shortages?
That will get a villages resident stampede started!!!
There is no more shortage than there has been the last few years....NONE.
Any given location may run out....until they get their next delivery. Results have been more vaccine than those who get the shot.

Less than 50% of population gets flu shots. Last year 162-169 million doses prepared.

I don't want to start a stampede. I don't know anything about a shortage. But, I do know that, when the new Shingles vaccine came out, it was readily available, and I got it immediately. No waiting. But, within a few months, there was a 3 to 4 month waiting list for it. Apparently, companies who make these vaccines don't know what the demand will be.

Good points and questions about the flu shot. It appears that the vaccine lasts approximately 6 months, and the CDC recommends a late October dosage time. So my sooner rather than later comment has changed. One can quickly find information about this online.

Yes, there is a time limit on the efficacy of seasonal flu vaccine, about 6 months. Waiting until late sept. is a good strategy in cold climates, but here in Florida the flu season tends to end a bit earlier, and it is better to be protected in Dec-Feb than to worry about late April.

As far as the shingles vaccine goes, there are occasional shortages, but the reason is that the process is very similar to manufacturing chicken pox vaccine for kids. So the decision was mad to give the kids priority leading to some periods of backorder for shingles vaccine

Just to clarify, the CDC has not yet made official recommendations for the 2020-2021 flu season vaccine, but they don't anticipate any major changes from last year's recommendations. Last year, they recommended getting the shot by the end of October, but that September and October were good times to get it.

And there are a couple weeks before the vaccine takes effect. Our plan is Sept - Oct since the season runs through first quarter of next year.

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.

do they still offer the $10 gift card?

I got my second shingles vaccine last week, so I’ll wait a few more before getting the flu vaccine. The CDC says there is some evidence that people with up to date vaccines of this sort have, shall we say, more alert immune systems that work better to stop Covid-19 if it attacks.

The best time to get your flu shot is from early September to late October. This timing offers you and your loved ones maximum protection for the duration of the flu season. The vaccine is safe for most people.Jul 8, 2020 CDC

As to flu shot helping against covid19: I read reports early on that outcomes for people infected with covid19 seemed to be worse in people who had the flu shot due to something called "virus interference". I also imagine that all nursing home residents receive a flu shot yet they have been harshly affected by covid19.

Flu shot
 

Saw doc yesterday and she said get it early October

Yes, I got a 10 dollar gift card at Publix.

Thank you! Mind sharing how much the Shingrix shot cost with the Good RX coupon? We paid $45 with our insurance.

The CDC recommends waiting until September/October, especially for older people, in order to ensure that the effects last the entire flu season.

The CDC website says the flu vaccine will not be available this year until September. Maybe you got a leftover from last year?

My dr up north told me not to get one till the beginning of Oct. He said if you get it before then, it will not cover you through Flu season.

I hope not. Both Walgreens and Publix told me that they had just received the new vaccine. Sam's Club also notified me that they were getting the flu vaccine this week.

If you have Tricare For Life (TFL) and on medicare, the shingle shot is FREE. Fot mine last year at Walgrens in Lauderdale by the Sea

Got my 1st flu shot in years last year even though I hadn't had the flu in years. A month or so later I had the worst flu ever, or at least that I remember. I think I will take my chance this year without drugs.

My PCP said the shortage for Shingrix was mainly due to the fact of the volume of older population. The drug companies sent just so much to each pharmacy/state/doctor. We’re overpopulated with who needs them. She said if we just happened to travel at that time, out of state, to get it if we could.

Shingrix and Medicare
 

Is Shingrix covered by Medicare? TIA

No, Shingrix is not covered by Medicare Part B. If you don't have other insurance, you will probably pay about $160 per shot for each shot. You need to get two shots between 2 and 6 months apart.

My PC Dr recommended mid Oct and not to get flu shot earlier.

No it is not. Medical and prescription covers it. I'm a pharmacy technician for CVS located inside Target.

:) Fortunately Mrs. Guy and myself were covered by our Medicare Advantage Plan. We did have a co-pay of $1.00 for each shot.

They are two very different vaccines with different needs and availabilities. Manf. know that people of all ages are going to want the flu vaccine and prepare accordingly. Shingrix is mostly only for older adults. So a shortage of the latter has nothing to do with the former. Starting threads with talk about shortages in this current environment is not a responsible thing to do.

I'm a pharmacy technician for 12 years now and I get my flu shot as soon as we get them in. The shot last for about 9 months so there is no such thing as getting it to early. There is such a thing as getting it to late. It takes a week to be come 100% effective. We have all shots available pneumonia, shingles, high dose flu shot, etc. We do give a $5 coupon for Target for the flu shot. No appointment needed so I hope to see you soon.

You did great. My wife has Medicare and plan F supplement from Florida Blue, neither would pay for the vaccine. Walgreens price was $182, Goodrx brought it down to $155.

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I am surprised that no one on here suggested that they MANDATE flu shots for all.
Last flu shot I had was over 50 years ago. Never had the flu. I use the wipes provided at the stores to wipe down the shopping cart and I wash my hands frequently during the day. No flu and no colds. But, thank you for getting the flu shot. It means you won't get last year's flu.

Orange Blossom Baby says "by the end of flu season you'll have been vaccinated for 7 months; and your vaccine will be less than 50% as potent as it was when you got it."

But she goes on to say: "If the CDC says this year's going to be an early season - then get it ASAP. It really depends on the year."

Special snowflakes who never get sick and never get vaccines aside...

The flu vaccines are year-specific. Last year the CDC recommended holding off a little while to get it, because they were expecting the season to start late. The vaccines don't just have a shelf life (how long they can stay in the vial before it has to be thrown away) but they also have a half-life (how long it takes to wear off in your body until it's only 50% as effective as it was when it was injected).

Yes it can last up to 9 months. But it starts losing its effectiveness several months sooner than that. If the flu season is expected to begin in November, and last as late as March, and you get the shot this week - in mid August..

It means it'll be 2 months in when flu season starts. By the end of flu season you'll have been vaccinated for 7 months and your vaccine will be less than 50% as potent as it was when you got it.

If you wait til September or early October, you stand a much better chance of enduring the flu for the entire season.

ON THE OTHER HAND - if the CDC says this year's going to be an early season - then get it ASAP.

It really depends on the year.