Now is the perfect time for everyone 6 months and older to obtain their seasonal flu shot for 2014-15 at the provider of their choice. Most pharmacists across the United States are certified and trained to administer flu shots as soon as their supply arrives. October is an excellent time to get this important preventative health action completed.
A shot given now does give protection throughout the entire flu season, the latest studies from the Centers for Disease Control(CDC) indicate that current yearly flu vaccines provide protection for 12+ months and so when flu vaccine becomes available for each season people should get their shot. While no vaccine is 100% effective in preventing any disease, protection from the flu shot or nasal spray ranges from 65-85% based on your age.
I was an early pharmacist advocate of patients getting a yearly flu shot to prevent disease since the late 80's and had the idea that "hosting" flu shot clinics at a community pharmacy (in the mid 90's) would grant greater access and send a strong message that the flu shot was truly for everyone. In 1996, I hosted the Goodhue County Public Health Nurses Pine Island flu shot clinic at the pharmacy one afternoon and they provided 180 shots compared to 30 that they usually provided at the local Senior Citizens' Center.
Take a look at our photo gallery for photos of my very first flu shot clinic hosted at my pharmacy practice back in 1996 together with Goodhue County Public Health. Perhaps, the first pharmacist to do so in Minnesota and maybe even the nation. We vaccinated 180 individuals that day in 3 hours! It was only the beginning to a career of providing disease preventing vaccines in a community pharmacy practice!
To date from 1998 through 2008, my community pharmacy based flu shot clinics in Rochester, MN have provided nearly 18,000 shots for influenza, pneumonia, hepatitis, tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis.
A shot given now does give protection throughout the entire flu season, the latest studies from the Centers for Disease Control(CDC) indicate that current yearly flu vaccines provide protection for 12+ months and so when flu vaccine becomes available for each season people should get their shot. While no vaccine is 100% effective in preventing any disease, protection from the flu shot or nasal spray ranges from 65-85% based on your age.
I was an early pharmacist advocate of patients getting a yearly flu shot to prevent disease since the late 80's and had the idea that "hosting" flu shot clinics at a community pharmacy (in the mid 90's) would grant greater access and send a strong message that the flu shot was truly for everyone. In 1996, I hosted the Goodhue County Public Health Nurses Pine Island flu shot clinic at the pharmacy one afternoon and they provided 180 shots compared to 30 that they usually provided at the local Senior Citizens' Center.
Take a look at our photo gallery for photos of my very first flu shot clinic hosted at my pharmacy practice back in 1996 together with Goodhue County Public Health. Perhaps, the first pharmacist to do so in Minnesota and maybe even the nation. We vaccinated 180 individuals that day in 3 hours! It was only the beginning to a career of providing disease preventing vaccines in a community pharmacy practice!
To date from 1998 through 2008, my community pharmacy based flu shot clinics in Rochester, MN have provided nearly 18,000 shots for influenza, pneumonia, hepatitis, tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis.