by Peter Heck and Jane Jewell
Have you had your flu shot yet?
The beginning of flu season is rapidly approaching, and now’s the time to get this year’s flu shot. I got mine last Thursday at the Kent County Health Department at 125 South Lynchburg Street in Chestertown. It was fast, about a five-minute wait with only one person ahead of me. There was only virtually no hassle, just one quick form to fill out. Bring your insurance or Medicare/Medicaid cards and the cost is covered with no co-pay, in most cases. So it’s basically free and the vaccine gives me a good chance of getting through the upcoming flu season without any of the all-too-familiar symptoms of the virus.
But does a flu shot really help? Many people say that they got the shot one year but still got the flu. Yes, that happens. But the Center for Disease Control (CDC) does a study each year to determine how effective that year’s flu vaccine was and how it compares to previous years. What they have found is that, while it varies from year to year, vaccination reduces the chance of catching the flu by between 40% and 60%. Thus there’s no guarantee that you won’t get the flu but you have a much better chance of resisting it than those who don’t get the flu shot. For every one hundred unprotected persons who get the flu, only 40-60 vaccinated persons come down with it. So with the vaccine, you have a decent chance of avoiding the flu. Without it, you may be sniffling and missing work for one to two weeks – or more. So, yes, the flu shot helps.
The flu hits suddenly, no gradual buildup of symptoms like the common cold often has. You don’t wonder if you might be coming down with something; you know when it hits. Fortunately, the severe symptoms usually last no more than 2-3 days. However, other symptoms such an intermittent low fever, cough, weakness, and fatigue may last a week or more. Sometimes, there is a lingering dry cough that lasts or returns again and again over the course of a few months. Catching the flu can end up with you not feeling up to par for the whole winter. So avoiding the flu is really a good thing! And the flu shot improves your chances.
The Kent County Health Department is holding walk-in flu clinics every Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon through the end of December. No appointments necessary. Tell ’em the Spy sent you.
Regular flu shots cost $30; while high-dosage shots for seniors are $50. But in most cases, it’s free, no money changes hands. Medicare and Medicaid pick up the entire cost while most insurance companies pay all or most of the cost. The clinic accepts Medicare and MCOs for payment, as well as cash, checks and credit cards. MCOs are the Managed Care Organizations that provide services to Medicaid recipients.
The strains of flu virus in circulation change each season, so last year’s inoculation is unlikely to be effective against this year’s bugs, which the current vaccine is tailored to protect you from. October and early November are the best times to get your vaccination. That way your immune system can develop antibodies before the flu season kicks in around Thanksgiving. Good idea to develop immunity before those big family gatherings followed by the frenetic shopping and festive parties of December. There’s no better time to visit a qualified health care provider and get your shots updated than now.
In addition to the Health Department, flu shots are available at many local pharmacies. No appointments are needed, just walk-in. Usually there is no or very little wait.
Rite Aid Pharmacy in Chestertown offers the shots Mon-Fri from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m, Sat 9 to 6, Sun 10 to 9.
Walgreen’s Pharmacy in Chestertown offers the shots from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays, 8 to 6 Saturdays and 10 to 6 Sundays.
Edwards Pharmacy at 102 S. Commerce St. near the Centreville courthouse, offers the shots from 8 a.m to 6 p.m. weekdays, 8 to 2 Saturdays.
Edwards has just opened a pharmacy in Chestertown but they are not yet geared up to offer flu shots. Next year, they said, Edwards Pharmacy Chestertown will have flu vaccines.
Prices tend to be similar to the Health Department; most insurance plans pick up the entire cost. For those without insurance, the standard shot is around $30, and $50 to $60 for the high-dose senior shot. Bring your insurance cards when you go for the shot.
It’s also possible your family doctor can give you the inoculation. But the point is to get it. It takes about two weeks after the injection for the vaccine to become fully effective, so getting your shot before the flu season begins is important.
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