West U area Randalls stores are making it easier for people to protect themselves against this year’s strain of influenza by offering flu vaccines on a “walk-in” basis at store pharmacies and through scheduled flu vaccine clinics.
Randalls is also providing an off-site flu clinic service for businesses, schools, senior centers and nursing homes that choose to provide their employees or residents with vaccinations where they work or live.
Randalls President Paul McTavish said the grocery chain is making the process of getting a flu vaccination both affordable and convenient.
“Customers can get vaccinated while they shop for their groceries,” McTavish said. “Additionally, businesses can offer their employees the convenience of on-site vaccinations administered by Randalls pharmacists.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated its flu vaccination recommendations. According to the CDC, all people ages six months and older should receive the flu vaccination each year. In addition, to avoid the risk of flu-related complications, the CDC stresses the importance that people with chronic health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, asthma, COPD or immunosuppressive conditions, receive a flu vaccine this season.
Since flu viruses are always changing, flu vaccines are updated each year, making it important for individuals to be vaccinated on an annual basis.
This year’s flu shot will protect against the H1N1 virus and two other influenza strains. People that received the H1N1 flu vaccine during the last flu season will still need to get the seasonal flu vaccine this year.
In the coming weeks, all Randalls pharmacies will be administering a high-dose flu vaccine called Fluzone High-Dose, which has been approved by the FDA for use in people 65 years of age and older. Adults above the age of 65 comprise 15 percent of the US population, but account for 65 percent of flu-related hospitalizations and 90 percent of flu-related deaths.
Fluzone High Dose contains the same components as regular strength flu vaccine but provides a superior immune response in people 65 years of age and older.
Information about stores offering the flu vaccine can be found at www.randalls.com/flu or by contacting a Randalls pharmacy.
Medicare Part B participants will receive the flu shots at no charge.
Lucille Gallman says
Whenever I get a flu shot, which is every year, I am always asked if I am allergic to chicken eggs. I just emailed the CDC and asked if the recent chicken egg recall could affect this year’s vaccine. If I get a reply, I’ll pass it along.
Lucille Gallman says
I received the following information from the CDC regarding this year’s flu vaccine:
“Thank you for your inquiry to CDC-INFO. In response to your request for information on this season’s flu shots and if there’s a risk they were made with recalled eggs from the recent salmonella outbreak investigation, we can provide you with the following information.
The recent August 2010, salmonella outbreak in shell eggs for food consumption and subsequent recall does not affect 2010 to 2011 Influenza Virus Vaccine production, safety or availability.
The eggs used for influenza vaccine production are different from eggs that are used for food consumption in that they are embryonated.
The Influenza Virus Vaccine undergoes extensive testing and the vaccine manufacturing process is highly regulated under the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) current good manufacturing practice requirements, including annual inspections of the manufacturing processes and facilities.”