Have any of you gotten flu shots for yourself or kiddos from the pharmacy? I usually get it at work and the kids get it from their pediatrician but the pharmacy seems so much more convenient. I'm wondering if its too easy and if there ia a reason why its better to take them to their pediatrician for their flu shots
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I usually get mine at the pharmacy in the grocery store. Its the same thing wherever you go. There are different vaccines for different ages, so I guess you'd need to make sure they have the right one for your kids' ages. I think the ages that a pharmacy can do vary by state.
I do take the kids to the pediatrician but they run a clinic so they have tons of appointments available, and on the weekends or other convenient ties. Plus I figure the pediatric nurses have experience with kids that might help make it a little easier, although both my kids are generally fine with shots. -
In my state we can vaccinate down to age 6, however I find kids under 10 do better in the dr office, we don’t have toys or fun bandaids. But if you’re ok holding your child or if you think they’ll be totally fine I’d go for it
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I always do mine at target or cvs, but both said they don't do them for kids until 7.
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My state does not vaccinate at a pharmacy under 18. Found this out the hard way after looking online, not seeing restrictions, and then psyching my 5 yo up for all of us getting vaccinated together at the same time only to be told nope - they don't do them for kids. Womp womp.
It was SUPER easy for my husband and I to get ours though, and we even got $10 gift cards each where we went (Publix). I think CVS offers a $5 gift card at their pharmacies too. One point is that the minute clinic will do childrens vaccinations in my state, but typical copays, etc. apply.
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I get mine at work, and our pediatrician does several flu clinic throughout the season so it's easy to run in and get them done. If you try the pharmacy, call ahead, because most have an age minimum.
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I think my local pharmacies only do it down to 9 or 6 years old. I always used to get mine at the pharmacy but now my insurance only covers it at the doctors office which is annoying for me, but since my DH doesn’t actually have a primary care doctor, he just didn’t get it last year. Our pediatrician does a flu clinic every Thursday afternoon.
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In Ontario, pharmacies won’t do anybody under, I think, 5, but I’ve had mine done that way.
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Yep. But they don’t do kids under 5 here. My friend is a pharmacist so I’ll go to her this year. She claims she’s gentle
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I always get mine at a pharmacy, usually cvs. I’m with my insurance I had to pay $10 and cvs gave me a $5 off coupon.
Kids I took to flu shot clinic at their doctor’s office, they had drop in hours before and after work on certain days, no appointment needed.
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I got mine and my 5 year old's at Target this year. I was going to take her to the pediatrician but their wait list was so long that we wouldn't have gotten it done until the end of October and I just didn't feel like waiting, so I went for it. From what I read from the CDC, the dosage for kids above 4 is the same as for adults, so I felt comfortable with having them do it rather than wait for the doc. And age didn't seem to be a limitation here, and we both got $5 coupons on top of a free flu shot.
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Yup our entire family got ours at CVS this weekend, it must be by state what ages they can vaccinate because they were able to do my 3 and 6 year olds. I made back to back appointments through MinuteClinic for all 4 of us and although there were tears and screaming it was super fast and easy!
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Thanks everyone yeah I think I will just play it safe and take them to the pedi
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@HappyBaker: your post prompted me to double check with cvs. If it's a cvs with a minute clinic they start at 18 months (except for two states) but if it is a regular cvs then the age is older. Glad you posted! I had only checked one cvs location originally. We've moved and are having a really difficult time finding DD a new doctor and I was worrying about when she would get the flu shot. Now we are set to go to the minute clinic next week.
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I got mine at CVs and have for the past few years. My teacher’s union holds a flu shot event, but it’s too inconvenient to attend. My kids will go to the pediatrician since my 5 year old is a screamer. My local CVS will vaccinate people ages 4 and up (NY).
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My husband got his at CVS. we planned to get our 4 year old his at a CVS minute clinic (check their website- it's not every CVS that does them fr kids under 9 but you can book online).
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I get mine at the pharmacy. LO has his 2.5 year check up and will get his flu shot at the pediatrician’s office.
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I'm a retail pharmacist in California, and we can't do them on any kids less than 7 years old, which is fine with me because it's emotionally hard vaccinating kids. I like to help people and make them feel better, and immunizations are necessary, but I don't like making kids cry
Generally pharmacists are pretty good at it because we do so many, sometimes 20+ a day XD I don't know how it is in other areas, but I'm a floating pharmacist, so I work in a lot of pharmacies. Some are crazy busy, and it's best to ask those pharmacies when the best time to come in is. You don't need an appointment and can come in at any time, but you may have a long wait. If the pharmacy is slow then it's relatively quick.
Generally pharmacists are pretty good at it because we do so many, sometimes 20+ a day XD I don't know how it is in other areas, but I'm a floating pharmacist, so I work in a lot of pharmacies. Some are crazy busy, and it's best to ask those pharmacies when the best time to come in is. You don't need an appointment and can come in at any time, but you may have a long wait. If the pharmacy is slow then it's relatively quick.
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