flu shot advice

suzshack

So I had a tough time finding the regular seasonal flu shot recently. ?I found a Walgreen's with it yesterday, and my advice is this--if you're calling around looking for the shot, tell them you are pregnant, first words out of your mouth. ?Because sitting at Walgreen's & waiting for my shot yesterday, I saw two different customers come in & ask for the flu shot only to get turned away (the workers said they didn't have any more flu shots), and I'm pretty sure they had more shots than just mine. ?

I'll be looking for H1N1 vaccine next, so if you find it anywhere, please put up a post here. ?I know the county is offering it for free, so far, but I don't know if any commercial pharmacies have it yet? ?Walgreens said they'd get it in the next week or two, FWIW.

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princess_shelly

Did your OB Ok you to get your flu shot?  Because PG women aren't supposed to get in in the 1st trimester!

The other's got turned away because they weren't in the high risk categories!

Your MD can also provide you the flu shot and h1n1 shot.

suzshack

My RE ok'd the preservative-free regular flu shot when I was 6 weeks preg.--it is safe in the first trimester (the virus in the vaccine is not live, it's dead). I know some people think getting a flu shot in first trimester could cause m/c, but I don't think there's scientific research to back that up.  Anyway, doctor said it was fine.

My RE won't be getting the H1N1 vaccine, however, and my general doctor's office isn't sure if/when they're getting it either.  I see my OB this week, maybe he'll have H1N1, we'll see.  There's just not a lot of this vaccine available.

parrotgirl

suzshack: where did you get the preservative-free regular flu shot? My OB does not offer the vaccines. Thanks!

suzshack

I got it at a Walgreen's, but it took calling 5 different stores to find one with it actually in stock (It was the one in Tarzana, on Ventura Blvd., actually at 18568 Ventura Blvd. 91356). ?I got the impression they were running low also. ?Good luck! ?

I'm still looking for a H1N1 shot, so if you hear of any places selling it, please let me know.

meldot

on a related note, I may have the swine. DH had it, and now I'm not feeling so hot. My doc called in a script for tamiflu for me (i'm in a "high risk" category) and my Walgreens was out of Tamiflu. And so was another one!

They were also out of seasonal flu shots. Craziness.

suzshack

I hope you found some Tamiflu, that's what my doctor said to get a prescription for if you come down with the flu... ?This flu stuff seems so crazy this year...! ?Take care & feel better.

princess31487

I work at a physicians office.  We had the regular flu vaccine but ran out because there is a nationwide shotage on teh flu vaccine due to high demand for the H1N1 vaccine.   We do have the H1N1 vaccine now.  We got 150 doses and are giving it out to high risk people first (ie pregnant women, children, and people with chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart conditions, etc.)  

What I am telling my patients is to call public health to see if they have it available yet.  They shoudl have the nasal spray at least.  

jagore08

I just participated in a drive thru flu clinic provided by the LA Health Department this past Saturday.  If you call them or look on their website, you can find another location (I think they're having another one in a few weeks).  Just a little advice, we didn't start giving out the shots until 10am but people were already lined up when I got there at 6:15!  There were miles of cars waiting and they shut down the line at about 12.  So if you find a place, get there early because a lot of people are desperate to get this shot and it will run out fast.

janice74

My husband and I received both the Flu shot and the H1N1 vaccine from our sons Pediatrician, so if anyone has small children, ask their doctor about getting it.  I had no idea they offered that service to parents.  They may not do it if your child is over 6 months, though, since they can just give the shots to the child at that point.