Prepare for Flu Season: Get Your Flu Shot

Flu season is just around the corner—are you prepared? If your answer is “no,” don’t worry. One Medical will soon have influenza vaccines available at all locations.* Not sure whether you should get the flu shot? Don’t fret. Here’s your 2014 cheat sheet to all things flu-related.

Beginning in September, we’ll be offering a special walk-in flu shot service Monday through Friday, on a rotating weekly schedule at select offices in Boston, Chicago, Washington DC, Los Angeles, New York, and the San Francisco Bay Area, while supplies last. Please click on the calendars below to see when and where you can find this walk-in flu shot service.

Outside of the designated walk-in flu shot schedule shown below, you can also get a flu shot during regular lab hours in Boston, Chicago, Washington DC, Los Angeles, or the San Francisco Bay Area (as listed by location and as soon as vaccines are available). If you’re in New York, you can book a brief visit with your provider to receive a vaccine.

The vaccine is covered by most insurance plans. Alternatively, if you choose not to bill insurance, the vaccine costs $25 out of pocket. If you’re not yet a One Medical member, you can receive the vaccine in our office for an out-of-pocket cost of $25. Please check with your insurance provider if you have questions concerning your coverage.

To save time in the office and expedite your service, we suggest you review the official Vaccine Information Sheet to learn more about the flu and flu vaccine before you come in for your shot.

We’re offering walk-in service for the flu shot Monday through Friday, on select dates at the following locations. Please click on the images below to learn where and when we’ll be offering the flu shot near you.

San Francisco Bay Area: September and October

Beginning September 2nd, and throughout September and October, we’ll have walk-in service for the flu shot in San Francisco, Marin, and Berkeley Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and in Burlingame, Palo Alto, and Sunnyvale from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

LA: September and October

Beginning September 2nd, and throughout September and October, we’ll have walk-in service for the flu shot in LA Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

DC: September and October

Beginning September 4th, and throughout September and October, we’ll have walk-in service for the flu shot in DC Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

New York: September and October

Beginning September 8th, and throughout September and October, we’ll have walk-in service for the flu shot in NYC Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Chicago: September and October

Beginning September 8th, and throughout September and October, we’ll have walk-in service for the flu shot in Chicago Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Boston: September and October

Beginning September 16th, and throughout September and October, we’ll have walk-in service for the flu shot in Boston Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

We recommend annual flu shots for everyone over the age of 6 months. Vaccination is especially important for pregnant women, people between six months and 19 years, adults over age 50, and anyone with a chronic medical condition. You should also consider getting a flu shot if you’re caring for someone who can’t care for him or herself (e.g., you’re a nursing mother, you have an elderly parent living with you, or you work in a health care facility).

The 2014/15 US seasonal influenza vaccine virus contains the same strains as last year. The trivalent vaccine includes two type A strains and one type B strain; the quadrivalent vaccine adds one additional type B strain. Type A influenza typically causes more extensive and severe outbreaks than type B. Because immunity against the flu viruses wanes quickly, you need to get a shot this year even if you got a flu shot last year. Annual vaccination provides the optimal protection against influenza.

Starting in 2014-2015, the CDC also recommends the nasal spray vaccine (LAIV) for healthy children ages 2 through 8 years of age, when it is immediately available and if the child has no contraindications to it. Studies indicate that the nasal spray vaccine may be more effective in younger children. However, if the nasal spray vaccine is not immediately available and the flu shot is, children between ages 2 and 8 should receive the shot. For more information, see Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine in Children 2 through 8 Years Old or the 2014-2015 MMWR Influenza Vaccine Recommendations.

If you think you have the flu, treatment is easy: Stay home and get plenty of rest and fluids. Take acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) and/or ibuprofen (e.g., Advil, Motrin) for fever and body aches. Prevent the spread of illness by washing your hands frequently, coughing and sneezing into your arm (not your hands), and throwing out tissues immediately after use. Don’t return to work or school until at least 24 hours after your fever breaks. You should start feeling better within a few days. If you’re worried about complications of influenza (e.g. if you are becoming short of breath or your fever is recurring, both signs of possible pneumonia), or if your symptoms worsen, please call our office and ask to speak with someone on our medical staff for more advice or to schedule an appointment.

Still have questions about seasonal flu? Check out our Influenza FAQ and 8 Ways to Keep the Flu at Bay. And follow One Medical on Facebook and Twitter for updates when new information emerges.