Bid the Flu Adieu

On top of sending the kids back to school and winterizing your wardrobe, add getting a flu shot to your fall to-do list. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend the influenza vaccine for anyone who wants to reduce their likelihood of contracting the virus or spreading it to others.

The good news is, getting the flu shot is as easy as ever. “Because flu shots are given annually and such a large portion of the population is recommended to get them, the offerings are a little bit different than other vaccines,” says Kris Ehresmann, immunization program manager for the Minnesota Department of Health. Beyond the traditional healthcare clinic setting, flu shots are often available at grocery stores, pharmacies, and senior centers.

MinuteClinics around the Twin Cities in CVS/Pharmacy, Cub Foods, and other various locations offer the vaccine to adults and children eighteen months and up. Linda Berntson, a nurse practitioner with MinuteClinic, estimates they give approximately 40,000 vaccinations a year and says the whole process can take less than ten minutes. With the shortages of a few years ago behind us, Ehresmann expects to have plenty of vaccine this season and noted that in 2007, there was even some left over.

Blending Strains

Each year’s flu vaccine is a carefully crafted blend of three influenza viruses thought to be high in circulation that year. However, even when there is a less than optimal match between the vaccine strain and what is circulating, there is still some cross protection, so you are better off vaccinated than not.

The inactivated vaccine (containing dead virus) is usually injected in the arm and can help the body develop antibodies in approximately two weeks with minimal side effects. It’s meant to protect against the respiratory illness influenza but unfortunately offers no protection against what is commonly referred to as the stomach flu.

Waiting Game

If your fall to-do list becomes your winter one, and a trip to the clinic has yet to be crossed off, don’t worry. “People think if it’s Thanksgiving and they haven’t gotten their flu shot already, it’s too late,” Ehresmann says. “And that’s not true.” Flu season often starts around February, so getting the vaccine in December or even January still gives you many of the benefits.

Common Questions

Who needs flu shots?
+ Children six months through eighteen years of age and adults over fifty
+ Women who will be pregnant during flu season
+ People with long-term health problems, especially heart disease; lung disease, such as asthma; and metabolic diseases, such as diabetes
+ Health-care providers

Who shouldn’t get a flu shot?
+ People with severe egg allergies (the vaccine is grown in chicken eggs)
+ As a precaution, people who developed Guillain-Barré Syndrome within six weeks of being vaccinated in the past. Talk with your health-care provider before being vaccinated.
+ People who are moderately ill should wait until they recover

Can I trust someplace outside my traditional doctor’s office?
Yes. Look for “Mark of Excellence” materials on display to verify it is a trained vaccine provider. The Mark of Excellence, given out by the Minnesota Department of Health, signifies the flu shot clinic has licensed nurses, meets CDC standards for storing and transportation, has trained their staff on how to administer and use the vaccine, and is CPR-certified.
You can also use the “find a flu shot” locator, and click on "find a flu shot." Look for a check mark next to the clinic’s name.

How much will it cost?
+ Generally $20 to $30
+ Most insurance plans cover it, including Medicare Part B for seniors.
+ The Vaccines for Children Program will cover children whose parents can’t afford it.

What about the nasal spray?
There are two types of influenza vaccines, an inactivated injection and a live, weakened vaccine sprayed into the nostrils. The nasal spray can be given to anyone two to forty-nine years old but not pregnant women or children with asthma.
*MinuteClinics do not carry the nasal spray.