Health Experts Warn: Get Flu Shot In Next Couple Weeks

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – If you haven’t gotten vaccinated yet, now maybe your last good shot before the flu season really kicks into high gear.

“We typically see it (flu season) start to ramp up at the end of November, December and into January,” said Rebecca Ward, a health educator for the Utah Department of Health’s Bureau of Epidemiology. “It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to take effect and provide those antibodies that can protect against influenza.”

Every year, a flu clinic rolls into KSL’s Broadcast House. Kent Nate never skips out on his flu shot.

“It’s like somebody not doing repairs on their car in my mind,” Nate told us. “It’s a preventative approach.”

Same goes for Mike Holman.

“I feel like it’s something very valuable. It works,” said Holman. “Being sick at the workplace effects everybody.”

If you’re looking for a free flu shot, a clinic at your workplace is one solution. Others include your primary-care doctor or an urgent care center. The Affordable Care Act requires insurers to cover in-network flu shots with no co-pay. Though, your doctor could charge you for an office visit in some circumstances.

But if you don’t have health insurance or just want to pay in cash, several retailers offer flu shots for a price. We called several for a price check.

The most expensive we found was the Shopko pharmacy at $49.99. The quote from Walgreens was $41, Smith’s was $40, the same quote we got from Walmart.

Sam’s Club offers flu shots at $31.82. The Salt Lake Health Department is a bit less expensive at $30, while the CVS Pharmacy in Target quoted us $27. Plus, you get a $5 Target coupon.

At $19.99, the cheapest quote we got was from Costco. You don’t have to have a Costco membership to buy a flu shot.

Most of these stores also administer shots for free, if you have insurance and they participate in your plan.

But do you really want someone from a big-box retailer sticking a needle in your arm?

Ward says the pharmacists in those stores are trained pros.

“I’ve gotten my flu shots at one of those stores myself and I’ve never had a problem. They’re very skilled,” said Ward.

Utah law mandates only the pharmacist at the store or a licensed intern can administer a flu shot. So, you can relax a little. It will not be someone from the stockroom or bakery sticking a needle into your arm.

But where you get your shot, may not be near as important as just getting one.

“If you’re not vaccinated and you come down with influenza, you’re putting people at risk,” explained Ward. “When you get the flu, it feels like you got hit by a truck. You’re running a fever. Older adults are likely to be hospitalized as they become seriously ill.”

That’s why KSL’s Peter Rosen gets his flu shot every year.

“I have a 93-year-old father. I have kids and I just don’t want to subject them or myself to the flu,” said Rosen. “People should think twice about what they are exposing other people to.”

Medicare Part B fully covers flu shots for seniors. And, the Utah Department of Health’s Vaccines for Children program will cover shots for eligible kids up to age 18.

To see how a child becomes eligible visit:

http://www.immunize-utah.org/vaccines for children program/

To find flu clinics near you, use the HealthMap Vaccine Finder:

https://vaccinefinder.org/