By: The Rx Savings Solutions Team
Over the past week, millions of doses of this year’s seasonal flu vaccine began showing up in hospitals and pharmacies throughout the U.S. This year’s vaccine has a cocktail of different influenza strains that are covered, including H1N1. They have been combined to ease administration and accessibility for citizens through one injection.
Several new guidelines have also been changed this year, including the recommendation for all children over 6 months of age to receive the vaccine, those aged 6 months to 8 years should receive 2 doses of the vaccine, and approval to administer the vaccine earlier than ever before.
When to get a flu shot has been a topic debated (and subsequently) changed often recently. In past years, as recently as 2008, the Center for Disease Control recommended being vaccinated after October 1st to have the best immunity throughout the duration of the flu season. This past year in 2009, that recommendation changed (correlating with the surge in interest with the H1N1 epidemic and earlier availability) and administration of vaccine was allowed to begin as early as September 1st. In yet another effort to make vaccine more readily available and encourage more people to receive the vaccine, it is now encouraged to be obtained as soon as it becomes available, which is now.
Initial pricing obtained by Rx Savings Solutions showed most pricing in the $20-$30 range, and more insurances than ever before covering the vaccine to some degree. If you have insurance, be sure to check to see if this product is covered. If you’re a cash paying customer, check back with us in the next few weeks to get a complete listing of flu shot costs at the major retail pharmacies.
For more information, visit the CDC’s webpage dedicated to this topic. http://www.cdc.gov/flu
