Fall is in the air! The weather is getting cooler, leaves are falling, and pumpkin flavors are everywhere. But with these autumn months also comes flu season. Be sure to help protect yourself against germs by getting your 2022 flu shot! It’s one surefire way to help you stay healthy this winter.
Whether you’re a first-timer to immunizations or committed to getting a flu shot every year, you may be unsure about what to expect from the 2022 flu shot. Before you visit your McAllen pharmacy, find the answers to these five concerns you may have about this year’s flu vaccine!
Which Flu Shot Should I Get?
If you’re under the age of 65, there isn’t a specifically recommended flu shot for you. Whichever one you’re comfortable with, your doctor recommends, or your pharmacist has on hand will do.
There are three flu shots recommended for those 65 years and older, but none of these are considered better than the other.
- Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent vaccine
- Flublok Quadrivalent-recombinant flu vaccine
- Fluad Quadrivalent adjuvanted flu vaccine
This year’s improved cell culture-based vaccine, Flucelvax Quadrivalent, has been approved for babies six months and older.
When Do I Need to Get the Flu Shot?
You’ll want to get your flu shot before the flu season hits your area. A good time to get the flu vaccine is sometime between September and October. Don’t get caught in the middle of flu season without the proper defense! Keep yourself safe from the flu by getting your shot before the end of October.
If you forgot or ran out of time, it’s okay to go ahead and get it; late protection is better than none.
How Can I Prepare for the Flu Vaccine?
No one likes to get a shot, even if it helps avoid the flu! Before getting the flu shot, drink lots of water to keep your muscles hydrated. When you’re ready to get the shot, relax! If you tense up right before a shot, it can hurt more.
What Happens After I Get a Flu Shot?
After you get the shot itself, you may be thinking about what happens next. The flu vaccine takes about two weeks to start taking effect. You may also feel some mild soreness, tenderness, and slight swelling at the injection site for a day or two.
Can I Get My Covid Shot and Flu Shot at the Same Time?
You’re in luck! If you’re due for a Covid shot (or booster shot), you can get your flu vaccine and Covid shot at the same time — what a time saver! And according to the CDC, it’s safe for children, who are due for both shots, to get the flu and Covid vaccine during one visit too.
Walk-Ins Welcome! Stop by Your Saenz Pharmacy for Your 2022 Flu Shot!
Fall is here, and that means the holidays are just around the corner! You don’t want to miss out on family or vacation time because you got the flu.
Getting a flu vaccine may seem like just another thing to add to your to-do list, but it’s better than getting the flu! The shot is a quick poke and you’re done, but you could be sick for a few days or longer with the flu. Keep yourself and your family safe this flu season by visiting Saenz Pharmacy, where walk-ins are welcome!