Seasonal Immunizations
Influenza (“the flu”) is a contagious disease caused by a virus and can be spread by coughing, sneezing or nasal secretions. Both children and adults can contract influenza at any point during the calendar year, though occurrences are highest from November to May. Getting vaccinated in December, or even later, may still be beneficial to avoid contracting the virus. By getting vaccinated, you can protect yourself from influenza and may also avoid spreading it to others.
Q: Should I get a flu shot?
A: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now recommending a flu shot for individuals age six months and older as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses.
Q: Will my flu vaccine also protect me against H1N1?
A: Yes! The flu vaccines are also effective for the H1N1 virus.
Q: Are there any side effects to the seasonal flu vaccine?
A: Some minor side effects that could occur are: Soreness, redness or swelling where the shot was administered; fever (low grade); aches or nausea. A complete list of possible side effects is available here.
Q: Should I get a flu shot at a pharmacy?
A: You can feel confident that our certified pharmacists will be available to administer your immunization conveniently and professionally.
Want to save time? Download the Vaccination Administration Record and bring it with you to the pharmacy.
Note: If you are allergic to eggs, you should not receive a flu vaccination.
Shingles Immunization
Shingles is a painful skin rash experienced by almost a million people each year. The primary symptom is severe pain and is often accompanied by fever, headache, chills and upset stomach that last from two to four weeks. Caused by the varicella zoster virus, shingles comes from the same virus strain that causes chickenpox. Often after an individual experiences chickenpox, the virus will remain dormant in the body and reactivate years later causing shingles.
Approximately one out of every three people in the United States will develop shingles. The risk of contracting shingles increases with age; nearly half of all cases occur in individuals age 60 years and older. Individuals who experience shingles will likely only develop it once in their lifetime, though in rare instances, it may be contracted a more than once.
The best protection against shingles is the vaccination. The CDC reports “In a clinical trial involving thousands of adults 60 years old or older, Zostavax reduced the risk of shingles by 51%.” Zostavax, is the most reliable prevention of this painful disease and is available at your Deitch Pharmacy with a prescription. Zostavax is covered by Medicare Part D.
Bring the Zostavax Registration Form to your Deitch Pharmacy appointment or fill it out before you have the vaccine administered.