Tag Archives: flu shot

Health Insurance Coverage and the Flu

We are in the midst of a really nasty flu season. You don’t want to catch this flu, and you won’t want your family members to catch it, either. Your risk of being exposed to the flu relates, in many ways, to health insurance coverage. This includes both your coverage and the coverage of the people you work with. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone who is age 6 months or older get a flu shot. Getting an immunization for influenza is one way to help prevent yourself (or your family member) from catching the … Continue reading →

Will Your Health Insurance Cover a Flu Shot?

Now wouldn’t be a good time to catch the flu. All of us are so busy in December, and no one enjoys being sick. The CDC recommends that most people get a flu shot in order to prevent them from catching the current strain of flu. Will your health insurance cover the cost of a flu shot? This year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine. They point out that the flu shot is the most important step in protecting against the flu, which can be a very … Continue reading →

Having Trouble Finding a Flu Shot?

While I was out running errands on Saturday, I noticed a sign on the door of the local Rite Aid pharmacy: all flu shot clinics are canceled. It went on to suggest other places where people might be able to find a seasonal flu or swine flu vaccine. It seems like demand for the flu shots is high, and suppliers aren’t able to keep up just yet. More than one friend has mentioned hitting the flu shot clinics and being turned away (in some cases, it’s happened more than once). Part of the problem is that swine flu vaccine manufacturers … Continue reading →

Will the Swine Flu Shot Be Ready by October?

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We’re not done with swine flu yet… or maybe swine flu isn’t done with us. As of the beginning of June, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control are reporting more than 8,500 probable and confirmed cases of swine flu in the United States; the World Health Organization puts the global number of cases just over twenty thousand. The virus has been confirmed in sixty-six different countries. More than one hundred people have died at the time of writing. But we may see a swine flu vaccine in the United States as early as October — right around the start of … Continue reading →

Where the Cold Germs Hide in Your Home

If someone comes down with a cold or flu in your household, it is usually inevitable that at least one other family member will get it. At least that is the way it is in my household. By the time one person starts exhibiting the symptoms, chances are that we have all already been exposed to the same germs. That still doesn’t stop me from disinfecting everything in sight. But what if someone who appears ill comes to visit you in your home? It could be anyone from a friend stopping by to little kids at a playdate. While I … Continue reading →

Preparing for Shots

No one thinks going to the pediatrician is fun, whether it is for a sick visit or a well visit. If you are prepared, though, things can go a bit more smoothly, especially when it comes to your child getting shots. You’ll also be able to bring up topics of concern and get your questions answered, despite holding on to a squirming baby, toddler or preschooler. Here are some ways to be prepared for the pediatrician when it comes to shots. Dress your child appropriately. This will make the visit so much easier. Forget about impressing the staff or the … Continue reading →

Updating the Flu Shot

The flu vaccine is new every year. The influenza virus evolves quickly, and the vaccine has to change every year to keep up. This year’s flu shot is getting some attention in the news lately. It seems like the flu shot did well protecting people for the first part of the flu season, but now cases of influenza are on the rise. Why? Because the strains that are very active this year aren’t strains that were covered in the 2008 flu shot. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control say that only about forty percent of the people who got vaccinated … Continue reading →

All About the Flu Shot

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that about 90 children under the age of 5 die of influenza each year in the United States. However, more and more pediatricians are now recommending that your little ones get the vaccine. If you’re concerned that the flu shot may have negative side effects, rest assured that they are safe for babies and toddlers. According to the biggest study ever, following 45,000 children, researchers found virtually no side effects that required medical treatment in the children during the first 6 weeks after vaccination. They also noted that flu vaccines have a … Continue reading →