Vaccination Updates:
COVID-19:
We still have some doses of the Johnson & Johnson, the one shot Covid vaccine, in stock. Our main focus with Covid vaccinations right now is to get people vaccinated who have never received a shot. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is available to anyone 18 years and older. Please stop in or call for availability.
If you are immune compromised and are eligible for a 3rd dose with either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or for a 2nd dose from Johnson & Johnson, we are asking that you contact your physician to get that dose. Most offices are reaching out to their patients that they know are immune compromised, and are getting them in for those doses. For immune compromised patients these are 2nd or 3rd doses, these are not considered booster doses.
In the news, there is a lot of talk about Covid booster shots. As of right now (9/3/2021), booster shots have not yet been approved by the FDA and CDC, and therefore we cannot administer any booster doses.
Shingrix (shingles) Vaccine:
We continue to take appointments for the Shingrix Vaccine for Shingles. Anyone 50 years and older are eligible for the vaccine. It is a series of two shots spaced 60 days apart. As we have mentioned in previous newsletters, please consider getting the vaccine before you age into Medicare. Once you are on Medicare, the shot is covered by your Part D drug plan, and usually goes towards meeting your deductible. In most of these cases, your cost is around $175. If you get the shot while you are still on commercial insurance, you usually will pay just your brand name copay, or there is no copay. So, it is definitely cheaper the sooner you get the shot.
Flu Vaccine:
We plan to start giving flu shots October 1st. We will be carrying the Flucelvax Quad, and the Fluzone High-Dose vaccines. We strongly recommend that everyone get a flu shot this year, especially since we are still dealing with Covid.
We will be doing flu shots on a walk-in basis during the hours of 1pm and 5pm Monday thru Friday. However, if the store gets to be too crowded with people waiting for flu shots, we may need to switch to offering shots on an appointment basis. If you need a morning, evening or weekend appointment, as that is the only time that will work for you, please call the store and we will make an appointment for you based on when we have an immunizing pharmacist available. We will put on our website, www.centerdrug.com, the paperwork that you will need to print, fill out, and bring with you for your shot. We will also have copies available at the pharmacy for you to pick up before your flu shot, so you can have it filled out when you arrive. Please fill out this paperwork for each person getting a flu shot. Having this paperwork filled out before you arrive will expedite the process and limit the amount of time you will need to spend in the store.
We ask that you also dress appropriately when coming for your flu shot. Please consider wearing a short-sleeve or sleeveless shirt. Avoid wearing sweaters, sweatshirts and long sleeve shirts and multiple layers.
We want to administer most of our flu shots during the month of October. That is the perfect time to get a flu shot since it is before any flu activity has usually started, and it will allow you the 2 weeks needed for your immunity to build, and the shot should provide protection for the entire flu season. We will continue to give shots throughout the season; however, we want to get as many people vaccinated during October as we can. Please don’t wait till we start seeing flu cases before you get your flu shot—be proactive and get it during October.
