Rite Aid Bend: Flu Shot Appointments in Bend, OR (2024)

FAQs

Is it too late to get a flu shot? ›

It takes about two weeks for your immune system to create enough antibodies to help protect you from the flu. If you're considering getting a flu shot later in the flu season but are worried that it's too late to get a flu shot—if there's any flu activity occurring, then it's not too late at all.

Flu Shot Vs FluMist: Differences

Research indicates that children with asthma who receive FluMist may have an increased risk of wheezing during the winter months. Additionally, for children with complex medical conditions; healthcare providers generally recommend the flu shot.

Influenza Vaccine Clinics

Those interested in receiving a flu vaccine should call 1-877-PA-HEALTH (1-877-724-3258) or their local state health center to schedule an appointment.

The nasal-spray flu vaccine LAIV (FluMist®) can be given to people with minor illnesses (e.g., diarrhea or mild upper respiratory tract infection with or without fever). However, if you have nasal congestion you may want to delay vaccination until the nasal congestion is reduced.

Does the flu vaccine work right away? No. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against influenza virus infection. That's why it's best to get vaccinated before influenza viruses start to spread in your community.

The CDC recommends annual flu shots for everyone 6 months and older each flu season. September and October are the best times for most people to get vaccinated. Medicare Part B covers the seasonal flu shot. We cover additional flu shots if medically necessary.

There are two options: the flu shot and the nasal spray FluMist. Most years, both offer about the same level of protection, but some people are better suited for the shot, while others do better with the spray. Recommendations on how to get the flu vaccine can change from year to year.

What is the difference between Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent and Fluzone Quadrivalent? Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent contains four times the antigen, the part of the vaccine that helps your body build up protection against flu viruses, than Fluzone Quadrivalent and other standard-dose inactivated flu vaccines.

Why isn't the FluMist available anymore this flu season? Studies conducted by the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that the Flu Nasal Spray Vaccine-LAIV (FluMist) was ineffective in fighting against the flu virus for all age groups.

You can benefit from the vaccine even if you don't get it until after the flu season starts. It's usually best for people in the United States to get the flu vaccine in September and October. Aim to get it by the end of October.

Does the flu shot cover influenza A? ›

Since 2009, VE studies looking at how well the flu vaccine protects against medically attended illness have suggested that when vaccine viruses and circulating flu viruses are well-matched, flu vaccines provide better protection against influenza B or influenza A (H1N1) viruses than against influenza A (H3N2) viruses.

How to get the flu vaccine. If you're eligible for an NHS flu vaccine, you can get your vaccine from: your GP surgery. a pharmacy that offers NHS flu vaccination (if you're aged 18 or over)

People who SHOULD NOT get a nasal spray vaccine:

Adults 50 years of age and older. People who have had a severe or life-threatening allergic reaction to any ingredient in the nasal spray vaccine (other than egg proteins). People who have had a severe allergic reaction to any flu vaccine.

For adults, doctors found that the nasal spray works just as well as the flu shot. In 2009, they found that the nasal spray worked better in children. But later studies didn't show that it was any more effective than the shot. Whether you get the shot or spray is up to you.

People who are moderately or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting a flu vaccine.

So, if you haven't been vaccinated yet, it still makes sense to do so through the end of February, and maybe even into early March, he said. There would also be "no harm" in getting vaccinated after March or April, considering that influenza viruses circulate all year round, Kuritzkes said.

Can a person get the flu shot while sick? Generally, a person can still receive a flu shot if they have a mild illness. The CDC advises people with a mild illness to speak with their doctor about their symptoms before taking the flu shot. Sometimes, a person may need to recover before receiving the flu shot.

Life-threatening allergic reactions to flu shots are very rare. Signs of serious allergic reaction can include breathing problems, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heartbeat, or dizziness. If they do occur, it is usually within a few minutes to a few hours after receiving the shot.