Blog

Start saving upto 75% on your prescription Click here to download your card

flu vaccination shots
  • Posted On: October 11, 2019
  • By: admin
  • Share:

It’s FLU Season Should I Get A FLU Shot?

Flu or influenza is a viral respiratory infection that spreads easily from person-to-person in secretions of the nose and lungs. It develops primarily in the lungs. Influenza is a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and even death in some cases as it affects different people differently. Each year, about 5 to 20% population gets the flu, resulting in missed days at schools and the workplace. Common symptoms of the flu include:

  • Fever
  • Muscle ache
  • Cough
  • Headache
  • Fatigue

How can you protect yourself against the flu.  Washing hands and avoiding others who are infected helps but the  best protection against  the flu is getting a  vaccination. The vaccination includes the most common strains of the flu vaccine predicated for a particular flu season. By exposing your body to these small amounts of virus you are able to develop an immunity to those strains. Therefore, if you are exposed to the flu depending on the strain you may have no symptoms or less affects then someone who was not vaccinated.

How does flu vaccine work?

An annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to help protect against flu, reduce the risk of flu illness and death in children due to flu-related symptoms. The flu vaccine protects against the influenza viruses by developing antibodies in the individual receiving the vaccination. A flu vaccine does not work right away, it takes about two weeks for the antibodies to develop, so one needs to take the medication well before the flu season (October to March) really gets underway.

Why do I have to take a flu shot every year?

Annual flu vaccination is needed every season because your body’s immune response declines over time and flu viruses also slightly change, making previous year’s vaccine ineffective. Therefore, the flu vaccine formula is reviewed each year and updated as needed. Effectiveness of the vaccine depends upon the extent of match between the virus strains used to prepare the vaccine and the actual virus type that is evenutually being circulated  in the community.

High-risk group for flu

Annual vaccination helps in optimal protection. Almost everyone, including children as young as 6 months should get a flu vaccination every year. Children 6 months to 5 years, pregnant women, travelers, adults aged 65 and above and those working in long-term care facilities, hospitals, or doctor’s offices are at a higher risk of getting influenza, and should get a flu shot each year.

Types of flu vaccines

Flu vaccines are available in the below options:

  • Inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV)
  • Recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV), and
  • Live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV)

Different flu shots for different people

Different flu vaccines are prescribed for different age groups. A high dose of trivalent flu shot with a higher dose of antigen is approved for the people 65 years and older to help create a stronger immune response. LAIV nasal spray vaccine is approved for use by the people aged 2 to 49 years but not recommended for use in pregnancy. A quadrivalent cell-based flu shot is approved for children aged 4 and above, while a recombinant quadrivalent flu shot is approved for 18-years and older.

Saving on flu vaccination with a discount drug card

The cost of the flu vaccine can vary depending on where it is given and if you have insurance. It is often cheaper to get the vaccine at a pharmacy instead of the doctor’s office depending on the cost of your office visit. The usual price of the vaccine itself is around $45 dollars for cash paying customers. With the free EzRx drug discount card, you can get most brands (Afluria, Fluzone, Fluaval, Fluarix) of the 2019-2020 flu vaccine for under $27 dollars.. In addition, if the pharmacy or grocery chain is offering a cash card for taking the vaccine you may be able to save even more.  EzRx drug card allows you to save a large amount of money on your generic and brand name drugs. Remember, to show them a copy of the EzRx drug card number while purchasing your medication at the pharmacy. When speaking to the pharmacist about receiving the flu vaccine provide them with the card information for processing

EzRx flu vaccine discount card can be used for prescription savings on drugs in over 65000+ network pharmacies. With EzRx drug card, you can have flu vaccine for as low as $26.50, which is more than 50% less than its average retail price.

To get your digital drug discount card, just text “EZRX” to 21000. The card comes with no upfront fees, no annual or renewal charges and lifetime validity. There are no limits on medicine purchases with this card. So, next time you need to purchase your medicines, just check drug prices online and use EzRx drug card to save more on your drug purchases.

It’s FLU Season Should I Get A FLU Shot?

Disclaimer: The information and content posted on this website is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used as a replacement for medical advice. Always seek medical advice from a medical professional for diagnosis or treatment, including before embarking on and/or changing any prescription medication or for specific medical advice related to your medical history.

Click here to download your card