On average, between 5% and 20% of Americans will get the flu this year, and 200,000 will be hospitalized due to flu-related complications. The flu virus is passed from one person to another as easily as shaking hands, talking to someone, or touching a surface after an infected person. In fact, it’s almost impossible to remain unexposed to the virus during flu season, which peaks in January-March, but begins as early as October and can last until May.
How to Find the Flu Vaccine
Simply type your zip code into the “Flu Vaccine Finder” and multiple locations will appear where you can get the flu shot. The address of each location is shown along with phone number, business hours, available vaccines, and prices.
Using this search feature for cities such as Orlando, Houston, and Seattle yielded 50 locations within a ten-mile radius. Even the small town of Bath, NY brought three results: two pharmacies and a grocery store.
The number of flu vaccines administered has nearly doubled in the past 15 years. Greater awareness, convenience, availability, and reduced cost has contributed to this.
A Brief History
The flu, or influenza, is nothing new. It is among the three most deadly outbreaks of disease in recorded history. The Spanish Influenza of 1918-1919 killed an estimated 40 million people, nearly four times the number killed in World War I. This led to extensive research to develop a flu vaccine.
The first human influenza vaccine was tested in the 1930s and was used on soldiers in the early 1940s. In the mid-1940s, it was discovered that influenza strains change every year, so new vaccines would continually be needed. The flu vaccine was available, but for decades this was largely the domain of the family doctor.
Changing Attitudes
In recent years all of that has changed. At first, it was difficult to get both people and authorities to accept that this very simple form of medical care could be administered outside of the doctor’s office. In 1999, only 22 states allowed pharmacists to give flu shots. Now all 50 states do.
How to Find the Flu Vaccine
Simply type your zip code into the “Flu Vaccine Finder” and multiple locations will appear where you can get the flu shot. The address of each location is shown along with phone number, business hours, available vaccines, and prices.
Using this search feature for cities such as Orlando, Houston, and Seattle yielded 50 locations within a ten-mile radius. Even the small town of Bath, NY brought three results: two pharmacies and a grocery store.
The number of flu vaccines administered has nearly doubled in the past 15 years. Greater awareness, convenience, availability, and reduced cost has contributed to this.
A Brief History
The flu, or influenza, is nothing new. It is among the three most deadly outbreaks of disease in recorded history. The Spanish Influenza of 1918-1919 killed an estimated 40 million people, nearly four times the number killed in World War I. This led to extensive research to develop a flu vaccine.
The first human influenza vaccine was tested in the 1930s and was used on soldiers in the early 1940s. In the mid-1940s, it was discovered that influenza strains change every year, so new vaccines would continually be needed. The flu vaccine was available, but for decades this was largely the domain of the family doctor.
Changing Attitudes
In recent years all of that has changed. At first, it was difficult to get both people and authorities to accept that this very simple form of medical care could be administered outside of the doctor’s office. In 1999, only 22 states allowed pharmacists to give flu shots. Now all 50 states do.
Today, many people prefer to go to a pharmacy or grocery store to get their flu shot. And the locations are ubiquitous. Pharmacies such as Walgreens, CVS, Albertsons, and Rite Aid offer the flu shot. Stores such as Publix, Kroger, Bi-Lo, Walmart, Costco, Target, Sam’s Club, Meijer, and Wegmans also offer this service.
This brings benefits to both the customer and the business. For the customer, it’s quick and convenient. No doctor appointment or long waits in the waiting room. For the business, the benefits are obvious. Getting people into the store for a flu shot means an increase in sales. The thought of “Oh, I’ll just pick up a few things while I’m here” is sure to take over. For this reason, stores are often willing to administer flu shots at a reduced rate or even for free.
Let’s look at some common questions related to the flu vaccine:
• How much does it cost?
The flu shot can be obtained for $30 or less. Often this is covered by medical insurance, or a small co-pay is needed. Frequently, flu shots are administered for free. Many employers offer free flu shots to their employees. If you have a public health insurance exchange, your insurance is required to pay for the shot without any co-sharing. County health departments often offer free flu shots as well. Some large retailers such as Costco and Sam’s Club offer flu shots for about $15.
• Can the flu shot give me the flu?
No. Vaccines that are administered with a needle are either made of 1) “inactivated” flu vaccine viruses and are not infectious, or 2) no flu vaccine viruses at all, in the case of recombinant vaccines. Side effects of the flu shot can be soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was administered. Less common are low-grade fever, headache, and muscle ache. These usually subside after 1-2 days. This is not the flu.
• Who can get the flu shot?
Anyone age 6 months or older.
• When should I get vaccinated?
The CDC recommends that you do this by October, since that is the beginning of flu season. It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to become effective.
• How often should I get vaccinated?
For most people, one shot will be sufficient for the flu season. Older people with weakened immune systems may have a shorter window of protection. Since the virus changes every year, it is necessary to get vaccinated annually. You can find out which flu vaccine is right for you by clicking the link to view a detailed infographic.
This brings benefits to both the customer and the business. For the customer, it’s quick and convenient. No doctor appointment or long waits in the waiting room. For the business, the benefits are obvious. Getting people into the store for a flu shot means an increase in sales. The thought of “Oh, I’ll just pick up a few things while I’m here” is sure to take over. For this reason, stores are often willing to administer flu shots at a reduced rate or even for free.
Let’s look at some common questions related to the flu vaccine:
• How much does it cost?
The flu shot can be obtained for $30 or less. Often this is covered by medical insurance, or a small co-pay is needed. Frequently, flu shots are administered for free. Many employers offer free flu shots to their employees. If you have a public health insurance exchange, your insurance is required to pay for the shot without any co-sharing. County health departments often offer free flu shots as well. Some large retailers such as Costco and Sam’s Club offer flu shots for about $15.
• Can the flu shot give me the flu?
No. Vaccines that are administered with a needle are either made of 1) “inactivated” flu vaccine viruses and are not infectious, or 2) no flu vaccine viruses at all, in the case of recombinant vaccines. Side effects of the flu shot can be soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was administered. Less common are low-grade fever, headache, and muscle ache. These usually subside after 1-2 days. This is not the flu.
• Who can get the flu shot?
Anyone age 6 months or older.
• When should I get vaccinated?
The CDC recommends that you do this by October, since that is the beginning of flu season. It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to become effective.
• How often should I get vaccinated?
For most people, one shot will be sufficient for the flu season. Older people with weakened immune systems may have a shorter window of protection. Since the virus changes every year, it is necessary to get vaccinated annually. You can find out which flu vaccine is right for you by clicking the link to view a detailed infographic.
Author Bio: Jeff Shjarback, MBA is a Digital Marketing Strategy Consultant that has worked as a Vaccine Specialist and Biological Products Specialist. Jeff enjoys blogging about internet marketing, small business, lead generation, economics, innovation & emerging technology, future trend analysis and business philosophy. Jeff is one of the main contributors to the FluPatch.org blog. To learn more about Jeff, you can visit his Google Author Profile.
Sources:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/09/20/drugstores-retailers-dive-deeper-into-vaccines/15908209/
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/misconceptions.htm
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/09/20/drugstores-retailers-dive-deeper-into-vaccines/15908209/
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/misconceptions.htm
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