Back to school prep - getting flu shots

[Anonymous]

My local CVS pharmacy (minute clinic) is offering the shots. Any downside to getting the shots now for my kids? It does take around a month or two to get the immunity from the shot?

[Anonymous]

They've got them already? Are you sure it's not last year's formulation?

They don't usually come out til September. However, October is the best time to get them, to maximize immunity for our peak, which is January. There isn't much info on how long it lasts, but most of what I read says about 6 months.

[Anonymous]

Yes, they have them. They have the trivalent and the quadrivalent shots.

The quadrivalent has 2 strains of Influenza A, 1 of B and 1 of H1N2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, they have them. They have the trivalent and the quadrivalent shots.

The quadrivalent has 2 strains of Influenza A, 1 of B and 1 of H1N2.

They also have a high-dose vaccine and an intradermal vaccine.

[Anonymous]

LOL - do you work for CVS?

[Anonymous]

It takes two weeks to get full protection from the shot, not a month.

[Anonymous]

Saw a sign tonight at Target.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LOL - do you work for CVS?

Ha ha. No.

I called CVS after a pp wondered if the vaccine was in. Then I also read the CDC page and found about the quadrivalent vaccine.

CVS gave me the whole spiel about what they had and the clinic timings and the price. Thought I would share it here.

[Anonymous]

I'd feel more comfortable waiting until mid-September at least. Didn't we have a resurgence of flu around March around here?

[Anonymous]

PP, I believe the vaccines are good for 12 months. I honestly don't believe waiting until mid September (or October) will assist with a possible spring resurgence.

I don't recall a resurgence last spring, either.

Of course, I usually procrastinate and wait until the end of September.

[Anonymous]

I was told that the vaccine for flu really only lasted 3 months and that you should get them twice. I was also told that it lasted 6 months. That year I had the WORST flu ever.

In fact, I've only ever had the flu, when I have also had the vaccine. The years I have not had the vaccine, I haven't caught it.

[Anonymous]

Last year was weird because the vaccine was off. That happens. I will say that the difference between my vaccinated kids that got the flu and my unvaccinated husband that got the flu was VERY noticeable. They were basically fine -- just a little under the weather. He was getting measured for a casket he felt so awful. I think they had a little bit of immunity from the vaccine. Somewhat ironically, he got the vaccine a day before falling sick -- when he saw they were sick, he ran out to get the vaccine, but it was too late.

Here's what the NYTs says about how long it lasts. Sounds like for healthy people, all agree that it lasts long enough to not be a concern. There's some debate about whether the elderly should get two shots, because they don't have strong immune reactions:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/01/17/ask-well-how-long-does-a-flu-shot-last/?_r=0

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was told that the vaccine for flu really only lasted 3 months and that you should get them twice. I was also told that it lasted 6 months. That year I had the WORST flu ever.

In fact, I've only ever had the flu, when I have also had the vaccine. The years I have not had the vaccine, I haven't caught it.

I work in health care as an analyst (but get clinical exposure) and have NEVER heard anything about "3 months" for a vaccine.

The years you didn't have the flu you were lucky that you were not exposed to it.

The years you had the flu must have been some of the "off" years for the strains in the vaccine (e.g., 2013-2014 season and approx 2007-2008 come to mind).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was told that the vaccine for flu really only lasted 3 months and that you should get them twice. I was also told that it lasted 6 months. That year I had the WORST flu ever.

In fact, I've only ever had the flu, when I have also had the vaccine. The years I have not had the vaccine, I haven't caught it.

I work in health care as an analyst (but get clinical exposure) and have NEVER heard anything about "3 months" for a vaccine.

The years you didn't have the flu you were lucky that you were not exposed to it.

The years you had the flu must have been some of the "off" years for the strains in the vaccine (e.g., 2013-2014 season and approx 2007-2008 come to mind).

I was exposed, my kids and my husband had flu but I didn't catch it. I was scrupulous about hand washing. And I basically quarantined my husband.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LOL - do you work for CVS?

The pharmacists who have to do these shots would definitely NOT be advertising them. It's their least fav activity.