Select Take Care Clinics are now offering H1N1 vaccinations for just $18*.
Per the Centers for Disease Control, the H1N1 priority vaccination populations include:
- Pregnant women
- Individuals from 6 months to 24 years of age
- Individuals from 25 through 64 years of age with health conditions that will put them at higher risk of complications
- Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age
- Healthcare and Emergency Medical Services personnel
- Offered to adults and children ages 2+
- Open 7 days a week, and weeknights too
- No appointments necessary
- Most insurance accepted
The H1N1 vaccination is currently available at select Take Care Clinics in the following markets:
- Atlanta Area
- Chicago Area
- Jacksonville Area
- Kansas City Area
- Knoxville Area
- Louisville/Southern Indiana Area
- Memphis/Northern Mississippi Area
- Miami/Ft. Lauderdale Area
- Nashville Area
- Orlando Area
- Philadelphia Tri-State Area
- Pittsburgh Area
- St. Louis Area
- Tampa Bay Area
- Tucson Area
- West Palm Beach/Ft. Lauderdale Area
Click here for vaccine availability at specific clinic locations.
What is H1N1 (Swine Flu)?
How is H1N1 different from the regular (seasonal) flu?
What is the H1N1 vaccination?
How many doses of the H1N1 vaccination are needed?
Who should get the H1N1 vaccination?
Who should not get the H1N1 vaccination?
Should I get vaccinated against 2009 H1N1 if I have had a flu-like illness since the Spring of 2009?
If I've received the seasonal flu vaccination this year, do I still need to get the H1N1 vaccination?
Are there other ways to prevent the spread of illness?
How can I learn more about the H1N1 vaccination?
2009 H1N1 influenza (also called Swine Flu) is caused by a new strain of influenza virus and has spread to many countries. Like other flu viruses, 2009 H1N1 spreads from person to person through coughing, sneezing, and sometimes through touching objects contaminated with the virus. Signs of 2009 H1N1 can include:
- Fatigue
- Chills
- Fever
- Coughing
- Sore Throat
- Sneezing
- Muscle Aches
Some people also have diarrhea and vomiting. Most people feel better within a week. But some people get pneumonia or other serious illnesses that may lead to hospitalization.
How is H1N1 different from the regular (seasonal) flu?
Seasonal flu viruses change from year to year, but they are closely related to each other. People who have had flu infections in the past usually have some immunity to seasonal flu viruses (their bodies have built up some ability to fight off the viruses). The 2009 H1N1 flu is a new flu virus. It is very different from seasonal flu viruses. Most people have little or no immunity to 2009 H1N1 flu (their bodies are not prepared to fight off the virus). The H1N1 vaccination is a vaccination designed to prevent the spread of H1N1. There are two types of the vaccine available: the flu shot, an inactivated vaccine containing fragments of killed influenza virus, and a nasal spray, which is made using a weakened live flu virus.- These vaccines are made just like seasonal flu vaccines.
- They are expected to be as safe and effective as seasonal flu vaccines.
- They will not prevent "influenza-like" illnesses caused by other viruses.
- They will not prevent seasonal flu. You should also get seasonal influenza vaccine, if you want to be protected against seasonal flu.
How many doses of the H1N1 vaccination are needed?
Adults and children nine years of age and older will receive one dose of the H1N1 vaccination. Patients ages two to nine are required to receive two doses. The CDC recommends that the two doses of H1N1 vaccine be separated by four weeks.Who should get the H1N1 vaccination?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention�s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that certain groups of the population receive the H1N1 vaccination when it first becomes available as they are more likely to have serious complications if they develop swine flu. These target groups include:- Pregnant women
- Individuals from 6 months to 24 years of age
- Individuals from 25 through 64 years of age with health conditions that will put them at higher risk of complications
- Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age
- Healthcare and Emergency Medical Services personnel
Who should not get the H1N1 vaccination?
You should not get 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine if you have a severe (life-threatening) allergy to eggs or to any other substance in the vaccine. Tell the provider if you have any severe allergies or if you have ever had:- A life-threatening allergic reaction after a dose of seasonal flu vaccine,
- Guillain Barre Syndrome (a severe paralytic illness also called GBS).
These may not be reasons to avoid the vaccine, but the provider can help you decide. If you are moderately or severely ill, you might be advised to wait until you recover before getting the vaccine. If you have a mild cold or other illness, there is usually no need to wait. Pregnant or breastfeeding women can get inactivated 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine. Inactivated 2009 H1N1 vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines, including seasonal influenza vaccine.
Should I get vaccinated against 2009 H1N1 if I have had a flu-like illness since the Spring of 2009?
The symptoms of influenza (flu-like illnesses) are similar to those caused by many other viruses. Specific testing, called �RT-PCR test,� is needed in order to determine if an illness is caused by a specific influenza strain or by some other virus. Since most people with flu-like illnesses will not be tested with RT-PCR this season, the majority will not know whether they have been infected with 2009 H1N1 flu or a different virus.Therefore, if you were ill but do not know whether you were infected with the 2009 H1N1 flu or a different virus as confirmed by an RT-PCR test, it is recommended that you get vaccinated if you fall within one of the priority vaccination populations listed above. If you have had 2009 H1N1 flu, as confirmed by an RT-PCR test, you should have some immunity against 2009 H1N1 flu and can choose not to get the 2009 H1N1 vaccine. However, vaccination of a person with some existing immunity to the 2009 H1N1 virus will not be harmful. For more information on flu tests, click here.
If I've received the seasonal flu vaccination this year, do I still need to get the H1N1 vaccination?
Yes. The seasonal flu vaccine is not expected to protect against the 2009 H1N1 flu.Are there other ways to prevent the spread of illness?
Take everyday actions to stay healthy.- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
- Stay home from work or school if you get sick and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
How can I learn more about the H1N1 vaccination?
To learn more about H1N1, its symptoms, prevention and treatment, and other frequently asked questions, visit www.walgreens.com/topic/disease/swine-flu.jsp or www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/.Click here for a full list of services available at Take Care Clinics.