Fight Flu And COVID-19 This Fall

(NAPSI)–With flu season in full swing and bivalent COVID-19 booster shots widely available, now is the time to act and assess your options for receiving these vaccines. Protect yourself and your family from these common illnesses this fall and winter by staying up to date with your vaccines and taking other proactive measures to support your general health and immune system. As it takes up to two weeks for your body to build protection against the flu, experts recommend getting your flu shot as soon as possible. Don’t hesitate to get co-administered vaccinesAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you can get any of the currently authorized COVID-19 vaccines at the same time as the flu vaccine, so don’t hesitate to get your shots simultaneously. “There is no impact to the effectiveness of any of the COVID-19 vaccines if you also receive a flu vaccine, as they are designed to help individually tackle their respective viruses when exposed,” explained Sandra Leal, PharmD, MPH, FAPhA, Vice President of Pharmacy Practice Innovation and Advocacy for CVS Health. “However, although it’s perfectly safe to get both vaccines at the same time, you should not receive either if you currently have COVID-19, regardless of whether or not you have symptoms.”Scheduling vaccines at CVS Pharmacy is easy and convenientAt CVS Pharmacy and MinuteClinic, you can conveniently schedule a flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine or booster in the same appointment. Flu vaccines are available there via digital scheduling (through CVS.com or the CVS Pharmacy app), and both offer walk-in appointments for people of all ages, seven days a week, with evening and weekend hours. You can also schedule an appointment for a bivalent COVID-19 booster at all CVS Pharmacy locations and at select MinuteClinic locations. For convenience of scheduling vaccines for your whole family, the pharmacy’s digital scheduling tool lets you schedule vaccines for multiple patients at once, which makes it easier for families and other groups to get vaccinated together.Seniors have additional options when it comes to flu shotsSeniors are at a greater risk of developing severe flu-related illnesses and have an increased need for vaccines. In addition to the standard Quadrivalent (QIV) flu vaccine, CVS Pharmacy and MinuteClinic offer two “senior dose” flu vaccines–Fluzone HD and Fluad–which are intended to create a stronger immune response for patients over the age of 65. Who is eligible for a COVID-19 booster?According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the CDC, the bivalent COVID-19 booster may be administered no less than two months after a patient completes an initial primary series or two months after their most recent monovalent booster dose. If you haven’t yet received your primary series of the COVID-19 vaccine, you are not eligible for a bivalent booster shot. In addition, certain immunizations have age and location restrictions. Learn MoreVisit www.cvs.com or www.minuteclinic.com for further information on the vaccines offered.