Healthy Habits: Flu Vaccines

With the start of flu season upon us, it is a prime time to begin thinking about prevention. One of the most effective ways to prevent getting the flu is through vaccination. The ideal time to get a flu shot is during September and October, but it is never too late to get vaccinated any time during the flu season. Here are some things you should know before getting your flu shot from RetailMeNot's Shopping and Trends Expert Sara Skirboll.

What Is the Difference Between Each Flu Vaccine?
This flu season, nine approved flu vaccines are available on the market. Seven products are quadrivalent, and two are trivalent. Quadrivalent vaccines contain four different strains of the flu virus, while trivalent products contain three different strains of the virus.

How Do I Know which Flu Vaccine Is Right for Me?
With the myriad of options available today, deciding which flu vaccine is right for you can be overwhelming. The most common way to determine which vaccine is appropriate for you is by age. On the lists below, you will see that different products are indicated for different age groups. Your pharmacist will use the vaccine that is appropriate for your age.

Quadrivalent Vaccines:
Afluria: Indicated for ages 6 months to 64 years and grown in eggs
Fluarix: Indicated for ages 6 months and up and grown in eggs
FluLaval: Indicated for ages 6 months and up and grown in eggs
Fluzone: Indicated for ages 6 months to 35 months and grown in eggs
Flucelvax: Indicated for ages 4 years and up and grown in cell culture

Trivalent Vaccines:
FLUAD: Indicated for ages 65 years and up and grown in eggs
Fluzone High–Dose: Indicated for ages 65 years and up and grown in eggs

Quadrivalent Recombinant Vaccine:
Flublok: Indicated for ages 18 years and up and made by recombinant technology

Quadrivalent Live Attenuated Vaccine:
FluMist: Indicated for ages 2 through 48 years and grown in eggs

Is There a Flu Vaccine for Seniors?
As you age, it becomes more difficult for your body to mount an immune response after receiving a vaccine. Fluzone High-Dose and FLUAD are both designed for people ages 65 and older. Fluzone High-Dose contains four times the amount of flu virus protein that the regular-dose vaccines have, thus facilitating the immune response. FLUAD is different in that it has the same amount of flu virus as the regular vaccines, but it uses an adjuvant to help induce an immune response. An adjuvant is a substance that facilitates an immune response and reduces the amount of virus needed in the vaccine. If fewer viruses are required to produce a vaccine, more vaccines can be made.

Is There a Flu Vaccine for Infants?
The CDC recommends that infants 6 months and older receive an annual flu vaccine. The following vaccines are indicated for ages 6 months and up:
Afluria
Fluarix
FluLaval
Fluzone (not the High-Dose)

If your infant did not receive a flu vaccine previously, he or she should receive two doses of flu vaccine given four weeks apart.

How Much Do Flu Vaccines Cost?
Most health insurance plans cover flu vaccines 100%. If you are uninsured, however, you can expect to see prices ranging between $40 and $45 for the quadrivalent vaccines and between $60 and $70 for the high-dose and adjuvant vaccines. If the prices are too high, you can talk to your pharmacist about using available discount coupons to help lower the cost. Check out RxSaver by RetailMeNot to find discounted coupons for the flu vaccine at nearby pharmacies. Simply search ‘flu vaccine’ in the toolbar and see if there are discounted coupons nearby.

Remember that the best way to prevent the flu is through vaccination. The cost of one vaccine is minimal in comparison to the price of medications to treat the flu and the value of your lost wages if you are out of work due to illness.