CVS recommends adults get vaccinated prior to peak of flu season

WOONSOCKET, R.I. Only half of adults plan to get a flu shot this year and those who do get flu shots often wait until a normally scheduled visit to the doctor or wait until flu season begins, according to a new survey from CVS/pharmacy.

“It’s best to get vaccinated before the peak flu season begins,” stated Papatya Tankut, R.Ph., vice president of pharmacy professionals services for CVS/pharmacy. “With so many convenient locations for flu shots, there’s no reason to wait.”

To make it even easier for people to get a flu shot, CVS and its retail-based clinic operator, MinuteClinic, will offer flu shots beginning this week. CVS will host about 7,500 flu shot clinic events and MinuteClinic will provide flu vaccines every day without an appointment at more than 500 locations nationwide.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends vaccinations as soon as they are available, yet the survey by CVS also revealed that of those who normally get a flu shot, fewer than half (45 percent) get vaccinated when flu shots are available. The remainder of people (55 percent) wait until a normally scheduled visit to the doctor or health care provider, or until flu season beings.

This year, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has endorsed influenza vaccination for all children 6 months to 18 years old. However, the survey revealed that just over half of adults who have children under the age of 18 in their household plan to have them get a flu shot (53 percent). Parents with children under the age of 12 are more likely to plan to get them vaccinated than parents with children age 12 and older (60 percent versus 39 percent). MinuteClinic will offer vaccinations to children over 18 months.