Another Year… Another Vaccination Season!

Influenza and COVID vaccinations begin on Monday, October 16th. This year there is a vaccine for those <65 years old and a high-dose vaccine for those 65+.

The current COVID vaccine that is being shipped is the Moderna Spikevax XBB 1.5 vaccine. The Pfizer vaccine is not yet available in Alberta. The booster can be given at least 3 months after your previous vaccination or 3 months after having a COVID infection.

You can book an appointment on our booking website using this link:

https://msp260.medmeapp.com/publicpatient

Arexvy

There is a new vaccine available this year for RSV (respiratory syncytial virus).

AREXVY is a vaccine indicated for the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by respiratory syncytial virus in adults 60 years of age and older. This is meant for those over the age of 60, especially those with chronic respiratory or other medical conditions. 

This is a single-dose vaccine and is especially recommended for those that are high-risk including those with respiratory diseases, diabetes, those that are immunocompromised.

At this time, this vaccine is not publicly funded and not covered by the government Alberta Blue Cross plans (e.g. group 66). 

To book an appointment, or for more information, please talk to one of our team members and we would be happy to assist you with this.

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine and the flu shot

Many people have asked about combining vaccines on the same day. You can get your COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as, or at any time before or after, other recommended vaccines. This includes the flu shot. 

Note if you are sick:

If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, it’s recommended that you wait until you’re no longer infectious before getting your flu shot. This will reduce the risk of spreading viruses, such as flu and COVID-19, to health care providers and others during your vaccination appointment.

Why get the flu shot?

The flu shot is your best defense against the flu. The flu shot is recommended for almost everyone who is 6 months of age or older.

The flu shot helps to protect you if you later get exposed to the virus by helping to:

• prevent you from getting very sick from flu-related complications
• protect people close to you because, when vaccinated, you’re less likely to spread the virus to others
• reduce the overall burden on the health care system during respiratory virus season and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
• reduce your chances of being infected with the flu and other respiratory viruses at the same time, including COVID-19, which could lead to serious complications

The flu shot won’t protect you against COVID-19, so it’s also very important to be up to date with recommended COVID-19 vaccinations.

Groups who should especially get the vaccine

The flu shot helps to reduce your risk of getting sick and developing serious illness and complications if you’re exposed to the flu virus. In this way, you can also reduce your chances of being ill with the flu and COVID-19 at the same time. Having both illnesses at the same time could lead to serious complications. You should especially receive the flu vaccine this season if you’re:

• at high risk of severe disease from the flu or COVID-19
• at increased risk of spreading the flu or COVID-19 to those at high risk of severe illness or complications

The flu vaccine is especially important for the following groups:

People at high risk of complications, including hospitalization, from the flu:

• Indigenous Peoples
• people who are pregnant
• people 65 years or older
• children 6 months to less than 5 years of age
• adults and children with chronic health conditions, such as:
  • kidney disease
  • morbid obesity
  • heart or lung disorders
  • diabetes and other metabolic diseases
  • anemia or other blood disorders and diseases
  • neurological or neurodevelopmental conditions
  • cancer and other immune compromising conditions
• people of any age who live in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities
• children 6 months to 18 years of age who are undergoing treatment for long periods with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)

People at increased risk of passing on the flu virus to those at high risk

• household contacts of people at high risk of serious illness or complications
• regular childcare providers to children less than 5 years of age
• health care and other care providers working in facilities and community settings
• those who provide services in closed or relatively closed settings to people at high risk, such as crews on a ship

Others

• people who provide essential community services
• people who are in direct contact with poultry infected with avian flu

Why you need a flu shot every year

A new flu vaccine is produced every year to protect you during the upcoming flu season. It’s important that you get a new flu shot every year because:

• flu viruses can change over time
  • the annual shot includes the strains expected to circulate in the upcoming season based on close monitoring of viruses
• the effectiveness of the flu shot deceases over time, so receiving a flu vaccine each year helps to keep you protected

Talk to one of your Medicine Shoppe Pharmacists to answer any questions or concerns you might have about these or any other vaccines.