Flu Vaccine

[Typhoon1]

Influenza Vaccine is available now at Walgreen's, CVS and the others.

 

We got ours today. Don't forget to get it done if you're cruising in the future.

[sail7seas]

I always get it at my doctor's office but I usually wait until mid to late September.

 

HAL crews are offered flu vaccine if they want it. I imagine they are encouraged to get it.

Edited August 10, 2015 by sail7seas

[cb at sea]

Let's hope this year's vaccine is for the correct strain of flu, unlike last year!

[Crazy For Cats]

Good advice. We will get ours at least a month before our next cruise.

[rkacruiser]

I already have an appointment scheduled with my family physican for early September for my flu shot. I, too, hope that this year's vaccine will cover the 2015 strains of the flu that will be around.

[Keith1010]

Good advice.

 

Keith

[Krazy Kruizers]

We get our Flu shots from our doctor so that insurance covers it. And that will happen in September.

 

About 10 days ago, even though we had gotten the pneumonia shot several years ago, our doctor gave us the new pneumonia shot -- Prevnar.

[take us away]

Sure hope when the decision was made 2 years ago for what flu vaccine to start making for this year, they guessed correctly!

[POA1]

Our family doctor recommended getting the flu vaccine in late October or early November so it would be at its most effective during flu season. We will, however, get it earlier if we're going to be traveling in November.

[Roz]

I have a tradition of getting my flu shot at Walgreen's every Halloween weekend. Easy to remember. This year I'm due for my 5 yr. update on my pneumonia shot.

 

Roz

[Krazy Kruizers]

Places like Walgreens, etc. charge for our Flu shots.

[Roz]

KK, interesting that your insurance doesn't cover the clinics in Walgreen's, CVS, Kroger, etc. My plan (a large state employees plan) encourages it, as the store clinics are less expensive than a doctor visit. Of course, for people who have a greater risk of complications or reactions from injections, a doctor's office is probably where they need to be.

 

Probably your insurer doesn't have an agreement with those companies to provide services.

 

Roz

Edited August 11, 2015 by Roz

[Lizzie68]

I usually get mine in October. We have so many of options of where to get it, I often don't bother to go to the doctor's office, dropping in to the local drug store is much quicker. Here, it is free for anyone over 60 wherever you choose to get it.

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

For those of us over 65, I thought Medicare covers flu shots - we get ours at CVS and they bill Medicare.

[Krazy Kruizers]

One time our doctor didn't get the flu medicine before we left on a cruise. By the time we got, he was completely out. So Joe went to WalGreens -- they would not accept Security Blue or Medicare.

Maybe the rules have changed since then.

[peaches from georgia]

Places like Walgreens, etc. charge for our Flu shots.

There is no charge if you are on Medicare. We have gotten our flu vaccine for years at either Walgreens or Publix and there has never been a charge for Medicare patients and they have always accepted our Medicare card.:)

Edited August 11, 2015 by peaches from georgia

[RuthC]

Our family doctor recommended getting the flu vaccine in late October or early November so it would be at its most effective during flu season.

That's the advice I was given, too. If given too early, it is no longer effective before the season runs out.

Many (most?) insurance will not pay for a second shot in the same season.

[Krazy Kruizers]

KK, interesting that your insurance doesn't cover the clinics in Walgreen's, CVS, Kroger, etc. My plan (a large state employees plan) encourages it, as the store clinics are less expensive than a doctor visit. Of course, for people who have a greater risk of complications or reactions from injections, a doctor's office is probably where they need to be.

 

Probably your insurer doesn't have an agreement with those companies to provide services.

 

Roz

 

 

There has been a major problem with insurance companies in our state (PA) the last couple of years. UPMC and Highmark (Security Blue for us) have been at war and many stores won't accept all insurances.

We have to switch to UPMC in November since all of our doctors and hospitals are UPMC and we are getting tired of paying the extra fees that UPMC now charges we Highmark customers for their services.

[Roz]

While we're on the subject of vaccines, get a shingles shot if you haven't had one already. You don't want to come down with a case of shingles while cruising or doing traveling of any kind. My insurance covered it once I hit 60 :eek:, but I've known several people to get it in their 40s and 50s, and I debated about paying the $250 outright for the shot.

 

One of my co-workers was afraid to get it because she thought she might suffer a reaction from the shot. Now she has shingles on her neck that's spread to her eye, and doc says she will probably lose all or part of her vision in that eye. Nasty stuff.

 

Roz

[POA1]

That's the advice I was given, too. If given too early, it is no longer effective before the season runs out.

Many (most?) insurance will not pay for a second shot in the same season.

That's the reason why our doctor told us not to get the shot too early. It only lasts so long. Must be that honest New England advice. :)

 

The one thing I should have mentioned is that the best time to get the vaccination will vary by a few weeks depending on where you live. Some regions get flu outbreaks a few weeks before it goes national.

[sail7seas]

Our family doctor recommended getting the flu vaccine in late October or early November so it would be at its most effective during flu season. We will, however, get it earlier if we're going to be traveling in November.

 

Unless traveling, my doctor usually recommends waiting until at least October keeping in mind it takes two weeks after injection for full efficacy of the vaccine. That is important to keep in mind.

January/February is often highest flu season in my area.

 

 

KK, interesting that your insurance doesn't cover the clinics in Walgreen's, CVS, Kroger, etc. My plan (a large state employees plan) encourages it, as the store clinics are less expensive than a doctor visit. Of course, for people who have a greater risk of complications or reactions from injections, a doctor's office is probably where they need to be.

 

Probably your insurer doesn't have an agreement with those companies to provide services.

 

Roz

 

No matter where I get the vaccine, it is covered and I pay nothing.

My doctor also encourages at certain age, all have singles shot as well as the pneumonia, including the new Prevar unless for some reason it is contraindicated for an individual.

 

Edited August 11, 2015 by sail7seas

[Fouremco]

The CDC has some interesting information on flu shots, including when to get one. They recommend having the shot soon after it becomes available, ideally by October. For the majority of people, a shot will last for the entire flu season, so there is little to be gained by waiting.

 

That being said, and bearing in mind the HAL passenger age demographic, the following may be of interest:

 

There is some evidence, however, that immunity may decline more quickly in older people. For older adults, another flu vaccine option is available called the “high-dose” vaccine, which is designed specifically for people 65 and older. This vaccine contains a higher dose of antigen (the part of the vaccine that prompts the body to make antibody), which is intended to create a stronger immune response in this age group. For more information, see http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/qa_fluzone.htm.

 

Healthy cruising!

[Typhoon1]

Walgreens and other pharmacies accept Medicare assignment.

 

Every year the vaccine is a guessing game. After all, medicine is only a science. I'd rather play the guessing game, than be unprotected.

[sail7seas]

The CDC has some interesting information on flu shots, including when to get one. They recommend having the shot soon after it becomes available, ideally by October. For the majority of people, a shot will last for the entire flu season, so there is little to be gained by waiting.

 

That being said, and bearing in mind the HAL passenger age demographic, the following may be of interest:

 

Quote:

There is some evidence, however, that immunity may decline more quickly in older people. For older adults, another flu vaccine option is available called the “high-dose” vaccine, which is designed specifically for people 65 and older. This vaccine contains a higher dose of antigen (the part of the vaccine that prompts the body to make antibody), which is intended to create a stronger immune response in this age group. For more information, see http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/qa_fluzone.htm.

 

Healthy cruising!

 

Thanks for posting about the high dose vaccine.

That is what I had last year and assume my doctor will administer again to senior patients.

 

Edited August 11, 2015 by sail7seas

[Randyk47]

Then there are mavericks like me who never get flu shots. Horrors! Truth is that I appear to be one of those folks who just don't get the flu.....like in never and certainly not over the past 40 years when I last had whatever I had that the doctor thought might be flu. Present doctor says I'm not in a risk group, despite my advancing age, so given my medical history he doesn't see the need. A little of Russian roulette but that's me.....just living on the edge. :rolleyes::)