Adult and Child Flu Vaccines

The Centers for Disease Control recommends that people get vaccinated against flu as soon as the flu vaccine becomes available in their community. Influenza seasons are unpredictable, and can begin as early as October. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against the flu.

A flu shot is needed every year because flu viruses are constantly changing. It’s not unusual for new flu viruses to appear each year. An annual seasonal flu vaccine (either the flu shot or the nasal-spray flu vaccine) is the best way to reduce the chances that you will get seasonal flu and lessen the chance that you will spread it to others. When more people get vaccinated against the flu, less flu can spread through that community.

For maximum protection, children ages 6 months to 8 years receiving the flu vaccine for the first time should receive a second immunization 30 days later.

Flu infections can make people more likely to develop bacterial pneumonia. There is also a vaccine to protect high-risk individuals 2 through 64 years of age against serious pneumococcal disease. Because the adult groups for whom pneumococcal and seasonal influenza vaccines are recommended are similar, the need for pneumococcal vaccination should be evaluated at the time of annual influenza vaccination.

Cost:
$27 for Flu
$58 for Pneumonia
(Medicare cards accepted)