Protect Your Family
Protecting your family from this season's flu is simple with a flu shot from Hartig Drug.
- Appointments are encouraged. Walk in vaccinations will be provided on a case by case basis as time permits.
- Competitive pricing
- Receive 25 Reward points
- Available at any Hartig Drug store
- Covered by most insurance plans
- The vaccine will not give you the flu
- CDC recommends that everyone ages 6 month and older receives an annual flu vaccine.
Influenza (the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. Influenza spreads from person to person generally through coughing or sneezing. Symptoms include fever, sore throat, cough, headache, chills, fatigue and muscle aches. Elderly, young children and people with certain health conditions are most at risk for severe complications or death from influenza. It is estimated that more than 200,000 people are hospitalized and 36,000 people die from flu related complications yearly.
Flu shot vaccines offered at Hartig Drug
| Vaccine: | Recommended For: | Benefits of Vaccine: |
|---|---|---|
| Quadrivalent (4 Strains) | 6 months and older | Protects against 4 types of flu viruses |
| High Dose | 65 years and older | Provides a stronger immune response for older adults |
| Needle Free Quadrivalent Nasal Spray | Healthy kids and adults ages 2 to 50 who are not pregnant | Alternative option |
| Preservative Free | Those with preservative or latex allergies | Doesn't contain any thimerosal/mercury, latex free |
How the flu shot works
Flu shots inject inactivated or weakened forms of the flu into your bloodstream which helps your body to form protective antibodies against the flu. Then when the live flu virus is circulating in your area, the antibodies you’ve developed are ready to “beat the bug”.
How the flu shot is made
The viruses that cause the flu change are always changing. A new flu shot is developed each year to protect against the most common strains of viruses expected. Year-round, national flu centers in over 100 countries study flu virus trends globally, keeping an eye on how the viruses are spreading, and how well the last year’s vaccine fared against the circulating strains. Then, the World Health Organization makes official flu shot strain recommendations to the United States Food and Drug Administration, who make the final decision.
Why the flu shot effectiveness varies each year
The flu shot is most effective when the dead viruses included in the vaccine match the circulating viruses. Sometimes the circulating virus can evolve to be different from the predicted strain, so that the vaccine does not match which results in more flu infections. Your age, health, and immune status can also affect how well the flu shot will protect against you getting the flu.
Hartig Drug pharmacists will work with you to determine which flu vaccine will offer you the best protection from getting the flu.
Why you should get the flu shot
Even in years when the vaccine is less effective, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has shown that the vaccine helps to prevent outbreaks of the virus. Those who receive the vaccine and do manage to get the flu usually have a milder and less complicated illness. This flu season, be sure to see your Hartig Drug pharmacist to get your flu shot and protect yourself, your family, friends, and the general public.
Developed from: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/index.htm
