Original Post
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Edited September 14, 2020
at 02:54 PM
by
2020
It's time for flu vaccine again. This year it is more important than ever to get the flu shot. If you get the flu, you'll be worrying about COVID, and you won't be able to work or be around anyone. If you get sick enough from the flu you need to be hospitalized, there may not be room enough for everyone. If you get the flu AND COVID.... As a doctor, I think you'd be at a much higher risk of dying, though ther's not much known about co-infection yet. Don't be that guinea pig. Costco has the same $20 fee this year, and almost all insurance covers the total cost of the vaccine. Check for stores that give you a kickback for getting the vaccine there. Stay safe and stay healthy, everyone!
This article lists prices at various national store chains where you can get your shot. Most insurance will cover your cost anywhere, but some stores give out gift cards or rebates, so check for that.
https://www.goodrx.com/blog/heres...this-year/
If you don't have insurance:
Costco has the quadrivalent (4 strain) shot available for $19.99 for anyone, member or not, much cheaper than anywhere else. Just tell the person at the front you are there for the pharmacy, as that's open to everyone.
https://www.costco.com/Pharmacy/a...ogram.html
https://www.savingadvice.com/arti...rship.html
Federal law is your friend in this case. Due to the way it's written, Costco must allow you to use the service of their pharmacy even if you don't have a membership. This means you can take advantage of their inexpensive prices on prescription drugs and immunizations without shelling out $55 for a membership.
To gain access to the Costco pharmacy without a membership, you simple need to tell the card checker at the door you are their to visit the pharmacy and they should let you right in. Once in, it doesn't give you access to buy anything you want in the store. You are limited to making purchases from the pharmacy (and in some states, alcohol)...
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There are other ways to get the vaccine if you don't have insurance. Check your local city or county health services, as they often have free immunization programs. Google around some for any other programs. If you're in college, there's a very good chance your school may give you the vaccine for free. Contact the Student Health department at your school. Because students are in dorms and attending many classes, they are more likely to be exposed.
Based on the history of this year's flu season in Australia, it could be a bad year for flu.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/0...erica.html
I urge everyone, especially if you have any health conditions like asthma, COPD, diabetes, etc. to get the vaccine.
On a personal note,
please get your flu shot. This last year, my cousin's husband got the flu, and he never got over it. He got sicker and sicker, was in the icu with pneumonia, which is a common complication, and died from multi-organ failure. He was a healthy, vibrant guy in his late 40s, salt of the earth, loved his hunting and fishing, and now he's gone. The flu is not a laughing matter, it can be deadly serious.
Please, no vaccine bashing here. If you're anti-vax, just move on to another thread.
Stay healthy, everyone!
ETA: Several posters have pointed out something important:
If you don't get the flu shot for yourself, get it to protect loved ones who may not be so healthy.
If it prevents you from getting the flu, you can't spread it to elderly friends or relatives or others who are not so healthy, and not so likely to survive catching it.
Spread the love, not the flu.
Publix gives out $10 gift cards if you get the shot:
https://slickdeals.net/f/13432567-free-10-publix-gift-card-when-you-get-your-flu-shot-at-any-publix-pharmacy?v=1&src=SiteSearch
Target/CVS gives out a $5 gift card with the shot:
https://slickdeals.net/f/13348684-get-a-free-5-target-coupon-when-you-get-a-flu-shot-at-cvs-target-locations?v=1&src=SiteSearch
https://20somethingfinance.com/wh...flu-shots/
Additional resources:
https://vaccinefinder.org/
https://20somethingfinance.com/wh...flu-shots/
https://www.singlecare.com/blog/d...flu-shots/
Free Flu Shots - San Mateo County, CA
https://www.smchealth.org/sites/m...nglish.pdf
Only certain dates, so check now!
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2 years ago I was unable to get a flu shot in my (walking distance) area even though I have insurance but it seemed that none of the pharmacies (all 3 big chains) used the brand my insurance covered. I went via train to a different town to get my flu shot.
Our local library offers free flu shots on certain dates for those residents without insurance, too.
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2 years ago I was unable to get a flu shot in my (walking distance) area even though I have insurance but it seemed that none of the pharmacies (all 3 big chains) used the brand my insurance covered. I went via train to a different town to get my flu shot.
Our local library offers free flu shots on certain dates for those residents without insurance, too.
Sorry you had to deal with insurance company BS, Crochetier!
I've seen too many patients who were deathly ill or worse from the flu. Prevention or even attenuation of the flu is priceless.
Stay healthy, everyone!
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Sorry you had to deal with insurance company BS, Chochetier!
I've seen too many patients who were deathly ill or worse from the flu. Prevention or even attenuation of the flu is priceless.
Stay healthy, everyone!
Thank you for the advice. I honestly didn't know that, but I am from a different country (in which you get your vaccines at the doctor's office and not at the pharmacy), and only live here since a few years so some things, especially health insurance stuff in the US, is still new to me. We were surprised that you get the shots at pharmacies here and thought it's the only way to get it.
I was seriously considering going to my child's pediatrician since she got the shot there for free/covered by insurance. Lol
Fortunately, last year and this year, the pharmacy closest to us could give it to me covered by insurance.
I though any years vaccine was normally one strain estimated to be the most active that season.