Flu Shots 2020

[Souschef]

I just got both my flu shut and a pneumonia booster yesterday.

 

[RobLJ]

Sorry. Sent this by email to Harlee, by mistake.


'm getting old--way too old.
And I will never forget seeing 2 teens/20s in the iron lung in rural Missouri, when I was 7 or 8. Maybe 9. It was a sight you will never unsee. I wish the vaxxers would see it, even though it is traumatic.

Polio.
We forget way too easily where we came from. Mom had my twin and me lined up for first the polio vax, then the sugar cube, then the smallpox.
I figured, what the hell. Mom would have crawled over broken glass to save us, so it was just standing in another line, in my view.

Too bad my twin (fraternal) couldn't get vaccinated against progressive myclonic disease. I'd give my right or left arm for that. Or both my nuts. No one should have to deal with that (it's like ALS/Lou Gehrigs's disease only 10x slower).

I'm contributing to the Gates fund, and I'm ashamed I didn't do it earlier. It's one thing to not do something because you are ignorant--but hell is reserved for those of us, like me, who know better and don't do anything. I'm repaid if only one kid is saved. Just one.

 

[PJHawk]

I’ve received a flu shot 28 years in a row, except for a few years ago when the had the Vaccine shortage. Once or twice I felt tired after getting it. Never had the debilitating flu that I did once have before I started getting the vaccine. The vaccine strain may not be 100% right, but gives your body a head start.

 

[badatmath]

Okay so stupid question if you go to walgreens or whatever do you just go to pharmacy and get in line and tell them you want a shot? I would assume they are actually busy you know doing work . . . I get my meds mail order so not well versed this "go to a a store" thing.

 

[MichaelB]

Okay so stupid question if you go to walgreens or whatever do you just go to pharmacy and get in line and tell them you want a shot? I would assume they are actually busy you know doing work . . . I get my meds mail order so not well versed this "go to a a store" thing.

Smart question. With CVS, Target and Walgreen you can make an appointment online. I know Target you can also just walk up an ask for it, though without an appointment you many have to wait a bit. Same with CVS.

 

[Car-Guy]

Okay so stupid question if you go to walgreens or whatever do you just go to pharmacy and get in line and tell them you want a shot? I would assume they are actually busy you know doing work . . . I get my meds mail order so not well versed this "go to a a store" thing.

I've got flu shots at both Walgreens and Walmart... Just depends... I've never made an appointment and both are about the same IMO. I walk up to the pharmacy counter and tell them I want the shot. Fill out some stupid form and ~10 mins later I get my shot. They already have my insurance info on file so they don't need to check on that...

 

[steelyman]

Okay so stupid question if you go to walgreens or whatever do you just go to pharmacy and get in line and tell them you want a shot? I would assume they are actually busy you know doing work . . . I get my meds mail order so not well versed this "go to a a store" thing.

Last year I got the flu shot at the same time I had a scheduled appt with a specialist. I was getting blood drawn anyway so when they asked if I wanted flu too I said “sure!”.

But the year before (2018) the supply seemed scarce. I made an appt at CVS as I had done previously. I did get the shot (RPh just steps into the store to administer or they have a room/cube set aside).

I think a call and appointment is a good idea and can save you time.

 

[badatmath]

Smart question. With CVS, Target and Walgreen you can make an appointment online. I know Target you can also just walk up an ask for it, though without an appointment you many have to wait a bit. Same with CVS.

I usually get them at my fall physical but may delay that a bit. . .

I will definitely do an appointment. I just think the Pharmacies always look like a mad house anyway. I don't like to be around sick people even if it is not covid who knows what anyone there waiting has. Sure a good portion of them are not contagious but . . .

 

[harllee]

My local pharmacist is going to come to the car and give the flu shot. You have to call ahead and make an appointment.

 

[Souschef]

Okay so stupid question if you go to walgreens or whatever do you just go to pharmacy and get in line and tell them you want a shot? I would assume they are actually busy you know doing work . . . I get my meds mail order so not well versed this "go to a a store" thing.

In my case, I was at the drive through window at a RiteAid. I was told they had flu shots available, so I parked and went into the store. The pharmacist also told me I needed a booster on my pneumonia shot, so I got both.

 

[travelover]

At Fred Meyer, you just walk up to the prescription drop off and they give you a form to fill out, then they call you into a side room where the shot is administered. Then you get a lollipop.

 

[RobLJ]

We've gone to CVS the last 3 years. The first time, they had to enter the insurance info so it took a little while, but the last two years it was pretty much walk up and get the shot in 5 minutes.

Okay so stupid question if you go to walgreens or whatever do you just go to pharmacy and get in line and tell them you want a shot? I would assume they are actually busy you know doing work . . . I get my meds mail order so not well versed this "go to a a store" thing.

 

[TrvlBug]

At Fred Meyer, you just walk up to the prescription drop off and they give you a form to fill out, then they call you into a side room where the shot is administered. Then you get a lollipop.

That's what they do at my Safeway except instead of a lollipop, you get a 10% off coupon which adds up when shopping for holiday menus .

 

[badatmath]

Then you get a lollipop.

That is funny. If we had one I'd go there!

 

[Aerides]

But the year before (2018) the supply seemed scarce..

That brings up a good point - if there's any year where "consumer demand" is going to have a big uptick on the flu shot it will be this one. I wasn't in a rush because i mean it's august, but I might just go sooner than later this year.

 

[donheff]

I wonder if some of the more "logic challenged" might go with the deaths to date (i.e. before the pandemic has run it's course) to do their calculations? I should add that I would consider using the total deaths to date as "logical" IF we magically and immediately vaccinated half the population of the world with an effective vaccine.

+1 The arguments seem to rationalize each step as if the pandemic is over and we have our final "not too bad" death count. In mid April those voices were citing 30K dead to date and poo pooing IHME projections of 70K by August (assuming CDC guidelines were followed). In May, as we passed 70K it was still "not too bad" given our population. A little while later IMHE's 170K projections for November were poo poo'd. Now we aren't even out of August and we have already blown by 170K and those voices are citing today's totals as if they are final. But wait, IHME is projecting 309K by December 1 and they have been low every time.

 

[misanman]

Late last year some good friends lost their 2 year old grandson to (according to the autopsy) the flu. If it had been covid it probably would have made headlines. Since it was the flu it didn't warrant any news coverage although it was unbelievably tragic for the parents (mother is a nurse), grandparents, and the whole family. We have always gotten flu shots and will get them again this year.

 

[braumeister]

Got my flu shot this morning and enjoyed a little levity.

Me: Left arm, please.
-----Nurse: You want the high dose, right?
Yes, I think so. You know, I've never had the high dose before.
-----You're kidding! At your age?
Hey, wait a minute!
-----[embarrassed] Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean ...

We both had a nice chuckle out of it.

DW got hers yesterday, first high dose for her as well.
She said her arm is a little sore this morning.

 

[MrsHaloFIRE]

Perhaps I should double index this here and under pet peeves. Last year flu shot at Walgreens I was asked whether I was pregnant. I asked if it made a difference. Was told no. Why ask?

 

[RunningBum]

Perhaps I should double index this here and under pet peeves. Last year flu shot at Walgreens I was asked whether I was pregnant. I asked if it made a difference. Was told no. Why ask?

Maybe for statistics collection? If someone pregnant goes to the ER with problems resulting from the shot, they may want to know how many thousands of pregnant women got the shot and reported no issues. If the number of issues out of total is too high they would look at changing that guidance. Just a guess.

 

[badatmath]

The form asks - I just signed up for one in a few weeks. It seems to early.

 

[ivinsfan]

Perhaps I should double index this here and under pet peeves. Last year flu shot at Walgreens I was asked whether I was pregnant. I asked if it made a difference. Was told no. Why ask?

Because I think they use a one size fits all consent form for vaccinations and some are a big no no for pregnant woman..

They print out a flu shot form from a master form.

 

[blueskyk]

Scheduled for my second Shingrex shot on Tuesday - was considering getting the flu shot at the same time. The first Shingrex shot left me with a somewhat sore arm, but I've had worse reactions. Wondering if they will even do both shots at once or if that is contraindicated. Also debating getting both in one arm or one in each, which could really mess up sleeping on my side. Thoughts?

DH and I just got both Shingles and pneumonia vaccines at the same time, one in each arm. The shingles vaccine arm was very sore for both of us and the pneumonia arm only a little sore. We were also a bit droopy for the rest of the day. These were the first round for both. We will also be getting flu vaccines.

We’ve never had such a vaccinapalooza year...

 

[Gumby]

Scheduled for my second Shingrex shot on Tuesday - was considering getting the flu shot at the same time. The first Shingrex shot left me with a somewhat sore arm, but I've had worse reactions. Wondering if they will even do both shots at once or if that is contraindicated. Also debating getting both in one arm or one in each, which could really mess up sleeping on my side. Thoughts?

I got the first Shingrix shot and the flu shot at the same time last week, one in each arm. The Shingrix arm hurt more, but I note that the amount of Shingrix fluid injected was twice as much as the flu shot, so I would expect it to be more painful. I sleep on my side, but did not find it a problem.

 

[ckelly78z]

I'm not sure I will opt to get the free flu shot that my company offers (on company time) like I have done in years past. I was on vacation the day they had them available last year, and just never thought about getting it somewhere else.

It turns out that I was the cold/flu free for the first time in about 15 years. I usually get one, or two bouts of upper respiratory infections, and the related coughing hacking for weeks on end, but not last year.....!