Can kids get a flu shot at CVS or Target?

[Green_Tea]

I am starting to freak out a little. I never got my kids flu shots this year, mainly because I am now working full time, and my pediatrician's office has no late/weekend hours. They open at 9 and close at 4:30.

DD1 has asthma and adrenal insufficiency, and really needs the shot. The flu could easily land her in the hospital with her combined health issues. Taking a day off to make it happen is not an option. Is this something I can do at Target?

How do parents who work full time get this stuff done??

[lcarlson90]

We got both of our kids' flu shots at Target this year. I believe we paid about $15 for each child. There was a minimum age but DS2 is 4 and they did his.

[glbb35]

I don't know about other places but they won't do them anywhere else around here but in a docs office. It totally stinks and isn't great for working parents I know. 3 years ago they did them at school which was nice. DS#1 has check up every year in the fall with this fall b-day so I always take the day or this year had DH take a 1/2 day and take all of the the kids and get them done all at once and DS#1 got his check up as well. 3 got the shot and 2 got the nasal thing all in one swoop.

DS got his on the way to work the other day at CVS and made an appt so he wouldn't have to wait and I ran into CVS on the way home Thursday. IT isn't easy for sure but that is the way we have to do them every year.

Good luck

B

DS 03, 06, twins 09, 11

[charp2000]

My youngest is 6 and got hers at Target the last couple years. It's much more convenient. They do have a min age but it's more like 2 or 3 I think.

[cvanbrunt]

The regular CVS wouldn't give it anyone under 18. You had to go to one with a minute clinic.

[mom2akm]

My Costco also has flu shots at $16.95.

[willow33]

My Target will only do over 18. Might be state by state laws?

[Green_Tea]

Thanks for all the info! I will get her a shot this week if I have to go to the moon!

[barkley1]

Fwiw, our ped says unfortunately they totally missed it ths yer on which strain was going to be prevalent. Hospital had 13 walk in cases last Sunday alone, and 80% had taken a flu shot :( I am SO bummed about that.

[Mikey0709]

That was us last year....at the hospital with the flu, a month after our flu shots. Believe it or not the ER doc laughed about flu shots.

[Green_Tea]

Fwiw, our ped says unfortunately they totally missed it ths yer on which strain was going to be prevalent. Hospital had 13 walk in cases last Sunday alone, and 80% had taken a flu shot :( I am SO bummed about that.


That was us last year....at the hospital with the flu, a month after our flu shots. Believe it or not the ER doc laughed about flu shots.

A good friend who is a pediatrician told me the same thing today - that they missed the mark on the strain (but she still said my DD should absolutely get it.) I'm really nervous this year. The last time I remember the flu hitting this early was in 1999 and *I* landed in the hospital. It was AWFUL, but I was a healthy 24 year old. I honestly don't know what would happen if DD got it. It scares me to think about it.

[icunurse]

Our Target and CVS wouldn't do it for people under 18, but we went to the Minute Clinic at Walgreens because we would have had to wait almost two months to get it through the ped (they only give out at random clinics).

From everything that I have read and heard from docs at work, this years flu shot is as good as they could hope for this years strain. The shot is never 100%, but besides preventing the flu for many, it can reduce the severity for some. Having had a bad case of the flu several years ago and almost being hospitalized, I will settle for a mild case if I have to get the flu. Hoping we can escape it completely here, of course! Fingers crossed....

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/12/07/166745954/unusually-early-flu-season-intensifies

[PZMommy]

My 15 month old has serious respiratory issues. He was hospitalized four times last cold and flu season, twice with RSV that landed him in the PICU, and twice with the common cold. He had the flu shot this year, and I just pray that it will help him this year.