https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 07 May 2026 08:10:48 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flu-shots-ped-vs-pharmacy#post-2777892 Thu, 05 Oct 2017 16:09:40 +0000 Raspberry 2777892@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The pharmacies around here won't do kids under 6 so I'm taking DS to our doctor. If I had the choice I would do it at the pharmacy. Our doctor always appreciated us taking DS to a community clinic for his baby shots so he wouldn't negatively associate her or her office with shots. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flu-shots-ped-vs-pharmacy#post-2777865 Thu, 05 Oct 2017 14:19:47 +0000 cascademom 2777865@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our pediatrician is okay with either venue. The nurses replied to my email before he did. The nurse made a good point that when done in the office, they have it on record. So, tomorrow I take my eldest one for his flu shot. Monday, I take my youngest on his day off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flu-shots-ped-vs-pharmacy#post-2777843 Thu, 05 Oct 2017 11:47:49 +0000 alphagam84 2777843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would prefer to use my pediatrician office as I know there will be tears and screaming over the flu shot and I'd like the privacy of a room and someone who does this daily on kids. My daughter's 2 year appt is at the beginning of November and we're doing the shot then. I wouldn't sweat about waiting 'til the end of this month to get one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flu-shots-ped-vs-pharmacy#post-2777821 Thu, 05 Oct 2017 10:02:57 +0000 Bluemasonjar 2777821@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was thinking the same thing since DH and I both need. to go to a pharmacy for our shots (different ones due to our separate policies of course). I hate to put my LO through another doctor's visit to get his but think I would prefer the pediatrician give him the shot since he is only 2. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flu-shots-ped-vs-pharmacy#post-2777800 Thu, 05 Oct 2017 09:05:59 +0000 Shantuck 2777800@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've done my son's flu shots at Target for the last several years (he's 5) with good results. Our Target has one of those clinics run by CVS with a nurse practitioner giving the shots in a private room. We promised our son that he could pick out a Hot Wheel afterwards if he was brave and he thought it was the best thing ever. This year we have a baby who has to go to the ped for her flu shot but we've been debating just bringing him to Target separately since it worked out so well the last couple years with the ability to immediately pick out his reward.</p> <p>ETA: Our Target also lets you call ahead and put your name on the patient list so you don't have a long wait. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flu-shots-ped-vs-pharmacy#post-2777750 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 23:11:40 +0000 QBbride 2777750@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would have it done at the ped! The 29th is still SO early in the flu season!! I don't really think pharmacists get much training with immunizations (at least not where I live) so I would prefer to go to a public health nurse or doctor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flu-shots-ped-vs-pharmacy#post-2777719 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 20:32:45 +0000 catomd00 2777719@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love the women at our Target and I'd have them do my kids if they were old enough! Unless you think your kid is going to freak out about it, i think it's fine. I mean I took mine to the ped the other day and they were no help trying to calm down the 3.5 year old and they see kids every day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flu-shots-ped-vs-pharmacy#post-2777711 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 20:09:50 +0000 gotkimchi 2777711@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In my state rph can vaccinate down to age 6. However, I strongly recommend children under 10 go to pediatrician. We're not set up for coddling, we don't have cool bandaids or toys, I don't vaccinate a lot of kids so that makes me more nervous etc. if you're state goes down to 18mo it might be a totally different story! I would call the store and ask their opinion. And I would say it depends on the child's temperament. My coworker asked me to do his 4yo and I declined.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flu-shots-ped-vs-pharmacy#post-2777699 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 19:24:14 +0000 erinbaderin 2777699@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a fun experience last year where or pharmacies won't do it if the child is under 5 and my doctor said they would only do newborns. I had to make a tonne of phone calls and argue for a long time with my doctor to get her to do both my kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flu-shots-ped-vs-pharmacy#post-2777697 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 19:14:24 +0000 Pollywog 2777697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My Pharmacy only does it at 18 months if you go to the minute clinic, otherwise you need to be grade school age. We are heading to the ped on Friday to get LOs </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flu-shots-ped-vs-pharmacy#post-2777664 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 15:44:20 +0000 PawPrints 2777664@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow Target will do them at 18 months? That's great! Where I live, the pharmacies all require a pretty high minimum age (like 4-7 years) but some drug stores have legit mini-clinics adjacent to the pharmacy that will do shots starting at age 2 years. That's where we did ours and DD's last weekend. I would think if you look around you could find somewhere that will get you in sooner than the 29th, that seems nuts. </p> <p>For anyone who is curious - we had great success with the method of the whole family going in at once, so DD could watch while DH and I got our shots first, then she was ready for hers and knew what to expect. She still cried a little bit but nowhere near the nuclear screaming of her past shots. Plus she's old enough now to understand that she's going to get a treat and a toy after. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flu-shots-ped-vs-pharmacy#post-2777602 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 13:49:14 +0000 Corduroy 2777602@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would do a pharmacy if I had the option. We have Kaiser and I appreciate that shots aren’t given in the pediatrician’s office. All shots are given in a separate office. For flu shots we’ll go to the lobby of the building and the kids will line up and get their shots there. They’ll scream but we’ll all live. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flu-shots-ped-vs-pharmacy#post-2777488 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 10:44:34 +0000 catgirl 2777488@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The target and all drug stores near me wonky do children under 5 (maybe 6 at a couple), so. It an option for us. But if she were able to get them there I would do it in a heartbeat! </p> <p>Our peds office does flu shot clinics - we got there 30 minutes before it started and the line was already wrapped around the building. If I could avoid that mess I definitely would. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flu-shots-ped-vs-pharmacy#post-2777430 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 09:23:44 +0000 looch 2777430@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son's a screamer, so I would want to have someone with experience with kids administer it, that's my only real hesitation. With it being at a ped's office, you at least kind of have that comfort level. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flu-shots-ped-vs-pharmacy#post-2777423 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 09:11:48 +0000 lawbee11 2777423@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Usually pharmacies won't do flu shots for children under a certain age. At ours I believe the cutoff is 6.</p> <p>ETA: Just saw that your cutoff is only 18 months. I assume it would be fine! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flu-shots-ped-vs-pharmacy#post-2777422 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 09:11:17 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2777422@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: It's 18 months+ for ours. My kid is 4. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flu-shots-ped-vs-pharmacy#post-2777419 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 09:08:12 +0000 Foodnerd81 2777419@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Carrot: did you check the age limit at target? I know my younger one is too young to go to a pharmacy so I'll just bring them both to the ped. I'd be tempted if thy were both old enough but I don't know the age. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flu-shots-ped-vs-pharmacy#post-2777413 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 09:05:19 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2777413@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hey all, wondering if anyone has experience with flu shots for kids outside the pediatrician's office? Ours are by appointment and they don't have any openings until the 29th. I was thinking about going to Target, but I'm nervous about it for a kid (I did mine at Target last year with no issue). </p> <p>Thoughts? Is the 29th too long to wait? I'm weirdly paranoid about this. </p>