Flu may hit earlier & harder this year (lotsa @)

[msmerymac]

Sept 13, 2022 11:34:13 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

I’m actually looking forward to hibernating from November until March this year! So glad I won’t have to get on the subway daily or deal with people all day long.

I got my covid booster. Next up flu vaccine and Tdap!

I know, buuuut I’m also worried about having a fresh baby in the winter.

[suburbanzookeeper]

I've had allergic reactions the last few times I've had the flu shot (hives in soft tissue spots). Last year I did a benadryl cocktail before, immediately following, then dozed for a few hours. Still was itchy, had a sore throat, but otherwise OK after 8 hours. I'm hoping to try the mist this year.

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My kids are scheduled for the mist at the end of the month.

[Pibs]

Sept 13, 2022 18:52:09 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

Sept 13, 2022 16:40:51 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

Oye. I need to schedule this stuff. I want to get the Pfizer bivalent first. I was supposed to go tomorrow but my H needs my car. 😡

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I took my kid to CVS for his last Covid shot and we waited like 45 minutes which is crazy with a toddler so I’m going to try to hold off for a pedi appointment this time. Wtf cvs?!?

Pharmacists are being stretched to the limits these days. 
From what I've seen appointments are just scheduled throughout the day while they're still responsible for screening medications, counseling patients, calling doctors, etc. 
I think I waited about 35 minutes from beginning to end for my vaccine and I was pleasantly surprised.
So yeah I agree if you're in a hurry another option is likely better than a retail pharmacy where pharmacists are being asked to do the impossible. 

Non-retail pharmacist here - yes, this is totally true. Chains especially aren't bringing in (and never will) additional pharmacists to give vaccines. They're just relying on current staff, which are nearly always already understaffed even prior to the pandemic, to handle the additional influx. A co-worker kept her retail job for weekend hours, and she says the appointment system isn't tied into the pharmacy system, so she doesn't actually know when people are coming in for shots. Plus people like to bring in additional family members without making them appointments. There's so much wrong here I can't even start.

I'd try checking out independent pharmacies in your area. Their volume is often lower and, in some situations, they have pharmacists specifically staffed for vaccines only. In Oregon, independent pharmacies are given $35 for every COVID vaccine they give - that's enough to pay a pharmacist to only jab people all day. I'm not sure if other states are doing the same, but last year another co-worker started working at his friend's pharmacy as a side hustle giving shots all day to pay for a hot tub. I went there this morning and got my bivalent booster (they had both Pfizer & Moderna) in 15 minutes total (plus 15 minutes Trader Joe's time so I was "in the area" in case I had a reaction). 

[bimbi284]

I hadn’t heard about this yet, and now I’m glad I decided to get the twofer bivalent and flu shots today.

[RoxMonster]

Just made my appointment as well as one for H to get our flu shots next week. We both got our bivalent boosters last weekend. I do miss being able to just get my flu shot at work (when I taught). It made it really easy. To be fair, my new job is offering them as well if you want to come into the office, but I am on vacation that week.

[wildrice]

FWIW, my employer is a health clinic that serves a vulnerable population and we started giving flu shots on Sept 1st. I don't think they would have started this early if they expected them to wear off too early to provide protection at an important point in flu season.

I am scheduled to get mine on the 26th, along with my COVID booster. I am only waiting that long because I had COVID in late June so I wanted to wait about 3 months for the booster, and I'd rather get both shots at once.

[picksthemusic]

Kiddos got their shots yesterday - it took the pharmacy almost an entire hour to get them their shots. I was fuming but didn't say anything, I know how busy and stressed they are.

At least they got their shots!

[Scout'sHonor]

I was supposed to get both booster and flu yesterday, but our Target ran out of booster on Mon... but at least I've got some flu antibodies brewing now.

[somersault72]

I've got to get DH scheduled for flu shot and Covid booster. He is the highest risk of all of us (by far). I can get my stuff at work. @ DS got his flu at his physical last month, DD is scheduled for next Friday. The last time I had the flu it knocked me on my ass (granted I was pregnant but only 17w, probably more of a factor I had been walking 10 miles a day in NYC). When DH got it a few months later he ended up with pneumonia and in the ICU.

[mrsukyankee]

We're not able to make appointments until Nov 5 at the earliest, unless you are over 65. Ugh. And I start seeing uni students (who are notoriously fab at bringing illness in those first few weeks) on Sept 26th onward, in person. Bah. Window will be open, hands sanitised and mask on for me.

[osulori]

Ditto Pibs on trying independent pharmacies! My kids got their covid shots (booster for #1, both doses for #2) at the independent pharmacy near our house and it was incredibly easy-we are planning on getting flu shots for all of us and my husband's bivalent booster there in the next week or two. I would have gotten my bivalent booster there as well but I wanted Moderna and they were out of it last Saturday, and I lucked into a late afternoon opening at the grocery chain's pharmacy (wanted to get it done while my husband was home in case of reaction). The independent pharmacy has been amazing to work with!

[wanderingback]

Sept 14, 2022 15:34:54 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Sept 13, 2022 11:34:13 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

I’m actually looking forward to hibernating from November until March this year! So glad I won’t have to get on the subway daily or deal with people all day long.

I got my covid booster. Next up flu vaccine and Tdap!

I know, buuuut I’m also worried about having a fresh baby in the winter.

Well the alternative would be send a baby without vaccines because too young in to daycare or nanny during winter/peak of covid/flu, so I'm good with hibernation lol. Will really look forward to the 6 month vaccines next year Between covid, flu, monkeypox and polio it's all too much! 

[wanderingback]

Pibs, good point. I def try to support independent pharmacies. I love the independent pharmacist I go to for meds when I need them.

[pixy0stix]

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Have the flu shot scheduled for myself and the kid for next weekend. I'd just take him whenever, but he is one of those people that gets sickly after getting it.

Then I'll go get my booster on the 30th so I have a full weekend to not feel great.

This took way more effort to think through than I wanted to spend. I hate all this vaccine math.

[georgeglass]

I have a fever (was over 102 briefly last night), aches, chills, intermittent dry cough. Three negative covid tests over two days (and two brands). I'm treating like it's both/either covid or flu.

[redheadk]

Sept 13, 2022 13:03:11 GMT -5 mcppalmbeach said:

anyone get their flu and covid booster at the same time yet? Is that being a glutton for punishment? Ds1 and are due for both:

DD had both on 9/1. No side effects that we noticed or that she complained about. Her arms were a little sore, of course, but nothing that slowed her down. 

Her pedi had already seen several cases of the flu at the end of August so we jumped on the chance to get her flu shot right away this year.

[vlinder]

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Conveniently our peds office just opened their flu clinic appointments Friday starting this weekend, so the kiddos are scheduled for Monday evening. Phew.

[georgeglass]

Sept 17, 2022 10:21:17 GMT -5 georgeglass said:

I have a fever (was over 102 briefly last night), aches, chills, intermittent dry cough. Three negative covid tests over two days (and two brands). I'm treating like it's both/either covid or flu.

After five negative tests, now on the third day, I have tested positive for covid (for the first time). So - at least it's not the flu and the start of a flu wave here?

[sookiestjames]

Sept 14, 2022 6:48:31 GMT -5 sju said:

Thanks for sharing. I have lung disease and for the last few years my pulmonologist said NOT to get the flu shot. My family would have it instead. I saw him last month and asked about it he said, oh that’s a decision for your rheumatologist to make. I need a new doctor, right?

My rheumatologist has me get flu/pneumonia/shingles and every covid booster available to me. I'd definitely get a second opinion!

[akayf]

We all just got our flu shot today. We all just had COVID the first week of August so we have to wait to get the new booster for the 3 of us who are eligible. Youngest kid is 11 so he’s not eligible. He actually needs to get his regular 3rd shot/booster. I was waiting until August to get him a booster because when they first announced his age group could get a 3rd shot, the rates of infection in my area were pretty low and he was still masking at school. I figured get it done in August so he would be freshly boosted for school in September since I knew he would most likely not want to mask anymore once he started middle school. But then we all got COVID so that plan went out the window.

[wanderingback]

Sept 18, 2022 18:57:23 GMT -5 akayf said:

We all just got our flu shot today. We all just had COVID the first week of August so we have to wait to get the new booster for the 3 of us who are eligible. Youngest kid is 11 so he’s not eligible. He actually needs to get his regular 3rd shot/booster. I was waiting until August to get him a booster because when they first announced his age group could get a 3rd shot, the rates of infection in my area were pretty low and he was still masking at school. I figured get it done in August so he would be freshly boosted for school in September since I knew he would most likely not want to mask anymore once he started middle school. But then we all got COVID so that plan went out the window.

Just fyi the cdc says you can get the covid booster as soon as you’re fever free from covid if you had a fever. Otherwise there is no specific eligibility after covid. You could get the booster 10 days after you tested positive. Experts are saying it probably makes sense to wait 2-3 months but that’s just opinion and I think depending on your family’s circumstances is what should be considered (health status, travel plans, being around vulnerable people, exposure level, etc).

[loira]

We won't have flu shots available until October at the earliest so it's probably too late for my household.


@ DD just went through a nasty bout of flu. She's been out of school for a week. We had to cancel and rebook her COVID booster for next weekend because of her fever.

[twinmomma]

Sept 13, 2022 12:06:49 GMT -5 twinmomma said:

My office does an annual flu shot clinic on site. This year they're able to offer Covid shots too. It's next week, so sounds like perfect timing with the flu predictions and the new booster that's available!

It may have been a bit aggressive to get both shots at once yesterday. They did one in each arm - I couldn't choose, they wanted to be able to know which arm had which shot for any side effects. OMG. I could barely wash my hair this morning my arms are so sore. I was knocked out last night with exhaustion - it felt like I was a couple drinks in and could barely keep my eyes open. That's how my other covid doses hit me too. Once the kids went to bed I crashed hard. So far no fever though, so I'm hoping I just need to wait for the arm soreness to wear off. 

[melmaria]

H and I are getting our flu shots today. I used to always get mine done at work, but they haven’t brought that back since covid started. I’m actually kind of annoyed I have to go to a pharmacy, lol. I’ve been spoiled by having it come to me.

We are waiting until mid-October for our bivalent Covid booster because we both had Covid in late April/early May, and I’d rather wait closer to the full 6 months.

In the future though, I look forward to being able to do both at the same time!

[Saudade]

Got both flu and Covid booster yesterday

No side effects yet, not even sore arms! What a win! Not sure which one was put in which arm.

It was almost exactly 1 year ago that I got my first booster and the tech did a double take when looking at my card. It’s so hard to believe.


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My kids got their flu shots last week and 2 of them had huuuuge local site reacciones for 24 hours but otherwise nothing.

[jane6672]

I feel like a gym sock in somebody’s mouth. My bones hurt.

Got my flu + booster yesterday. Still not as bad as previous times! And the sore arm is less worse too.

[Bad Dingo]

I got my flu shot last week and I didn't even have a sore arm. If I didn't see him actually give me the shot and need a bandaid I'd have thought that I didn't even get a shot.

[rubytue]

Sept 22, 2022 9:45:04 GMT -5 jane6672 said:

I feel like a gym sock in somebody’s mouth. My bones hurt.

Got my flu + booster yesterday. Still not as bad as previous times! And the sore arm is less worse too.

So this will sound really weird, but try Claritin for bone pain. It helps for other meds that cause bone pain, like when they are stimulating white blood cell production (GCFS/nuelata). And in my non-medical brain, I could see some logic that a vaccine might also be stimulating white blood cells and make you marrow get busy. 

[pixy0stix]

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The kid and I have appts for flu shots on Saturday. I'll get my booster not this Friday, but next. That way I'll have all weekend to feel like poop.

[okla]

I have a booster and flu shot scheduled for tomorrow at CVS. However, starting Jan 2022, CVS stopped taking my insurance. Does anyone have experience with this? Is it going to be an issue/am I going to end up paying?