Flu Season 4-1-1
Flu season is underway and schools and parents are gearing up for runny noses and sick kids. The good news is that you can try to head off the inevitable by getting your flu shot now at a number of local pharmacies and walk-in clinics. Lower Manhattan has its fair share of pharmacies, including Duane Reade, CVS/Walgreens. A big trend in prevention has been to offer on-site flu clinics at your local pharmacy and this year is no exception.
Because most healthcare plans now cover preventive services, flu shots that are obtained by an in-network provider will be covered at 100%. And, if you are fortunate, your primary insurance company will allow you to obtain your flu shot on-site and submit your receipt and RX claim form for a reimbursement.
There are four different flu vaccines available for the 2013-2014 Flu season, according to the Centers for Disease Control:
- Intramuscular flu shot approved for people 6 months and older
- High-dose intramuscular flu shot approved for people 65 and older
- Intradermal flu shot approved for people 18 to 64 years of age
- Intranasal flu vaccine approved for healthy people 2 to 49 years of age who are not pregnant
If you are thinking about flu shots for your children, be sure to check with your family pediatrician to ensure a flu vaccine is the right choice for your family. Clearly, flu shots aren’t for everyone, but if you are a believer in the benefits of flu shots and not afraid of needles like I am, you are in luck as FiDi has options for a quick, appointment-free flu shot.
FiDi Families Insiders: Walk-in appointments are available but check with your insurance company to ensure the facility is considered “in-network”.
For additional information, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/