More ways the health insurance companies are trying to kill us:

[hedgehog]

Right now the recommendation is for three flu shots: one for viruses that have been around a while, two for the H1N1 given about 6 weeks apart.

It would make sense for doctors to give vaccines to patients in for routine check-ups. Other adult diseases prevented by vaccines include tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, pneumonia and shingles.

Here's the catch: my insurance company won't pay for a vaccine given during an office visit. I have to return on another day just for the shot. How many working adults can make the time for that separate visit just for a vaccine?

[Warpy]

1. The shot will be twenty bucks or less

I think you'll be able to afford it.

I also think local public health departments will be giving this one out.

The most vulnerable population, pregnant women, are also the least likely to have health insurance due to their concentration in low wage jobs that don't offer it.

[hedgehog]

2. I always get vaccines at the doctor's or county health. I tend to forget

that a lot of flu shots are given at pharmacies and grocery stores.

If we do this the usual way, it's going to make record keeping a nightmare. Someone comes in with H1N1 and claims to have had the flu shot. Is the vaccine no good or did they not get the second shot or did they just get shot for "normal" flu? I doubt Walmart keeps good shot records.

[nightrain]

3. I wouldn't take those flu shots if you paid me! Bad research and production.

[Warpy]

7. You have to sign a permit to get the shot

and they do keep those records.

However, most people who get it won't get tested for it. It'll just be another case of the flu.

Certainly people who get their shots at Wally's won't get tested for it. They're getting shots at Wally's because they don't have insurance and a primary care doc.

BTDT.

[sweetpotato]

8. Its the time away from work, not the out of pocket charges, I think

I think that was the point - you have to leave work on 2 separate occasions - one for checkup and one for vaccines.

[deaniac21]

4. You have to take the shot in mid to late October. If you take it earlier

you won't be covered during the prime flu time. Later and you won't be covered for the start. You can get flu shots at any state health department. Usually for free.

[hedgehog]

5. I think as long as the vaccine in the shot covers the viruses

in circulation, you're good to go. About ten years back, my doctor was giving flu shots in August and early September to catch his snow bird patients before they headed to Florida. More recently, the vaccines haven't been delivered to him until late September, early October.

[deaniac21]

6. You need to do a little research.

[hedgehog]

9. According to the CDC

In general, health-care providers should begin offering vaccination soon after vaccine becomes available and if possible by October. To avoid missed opportunities for vaccination, providers should offer vaccination during routine health-care visits or during hospitalizations whenever vaccine is available.


Beginning use of seasonal vaccine as soon as available, including in September or earlier, might reduce the overlap of seasonal and novel influenza vaccination efforts.

Vaccination efforts should continue throughout the season, because the duration of the influenza season varies, and influenza might not appear in certain communities until February or March. Providers should offer influenza vaccine routinely, and organized vaccination campaigns should continue throughout the influenza season, including after influenza activity has begun in the community. Vaccine administered in December or later, even if influenza activity has already begun, is likely to be beneficial in the majority of influenza seasons.

http://www.cdc.gov/FLU/PROFESSIONALS/acip/timing.htm

[deaniac21]

10. I have lung disease and have had to be on top of this for years

and I can tell you that NO pulmonologist would agree with the cdc on this one.