Get a Flu Shot in Potomac

Montgomery County health officials on Wednesday released the county's 2012-2013 schedule of free flu vaccination clinics.

“Flu season is around the corner and vaccination is the best way to protect against getting the flu," county health officer Dr. Ulder J. Tillma said in a news release. "I urge everyone over the age of six months to get vaccinated.”

Free flu vaccines will be offered at two Rockville clinics.

FluMist nasal spray vaccines will be offered to healty children age 3 to 18 by appointment from 9 a.m. to noon on Nov. 5 at Richard Montgomery High School.

Flu shots only will be offered to all ages by appointment from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 13 at the Universities at Shady Grove.

Click here for a listing of other county flu vaccine clinics and here to make an appointment.

Those without Internet access can call 311 to make an appointment.

Flu shots also are available at local pharmacies in Potomac.

The following locations around Potomac are also offering vaccinations:

• Rite Aid Pharmacy - The store on River Road gives flu shots for $29.99. The shots will be offered until the end of April, while supplies last.
• Walgreens - The store on River Road offers flu shots for $30, while supplies last.
• Giant - The store at the Potomac Promenade Shopping Center is offering flu shots for $30, while supplies last.
• Harris Teeter - The store on Park Potomac Avenue charges $24.95 for the seasonal flu shot.

Age and insurance restrictions may apply, so be sure to check with a pharmacist.

Click here for more information on flu shots at Walgreens.

Click here for more information on flu shots at CVS.

Are you guaranteed to get the flu if you don’t get vaccinated against it? Of course not—but here’s why getting a flu vaccine just might be worth your while.

Influenza, or the "flu,” is a contagious respiratory illness caused by viruses infecting the nose, throat and lungs.

Symptoms include muscle or body aches, headaches, cough, sore throat, fatigue, fever or chills, and vomiting and diarrhea (the latter two are more common in kids). The flu can also worsen chronic medical conditions or cause death.

Unfortunately, flu viruses can spread easily via infected people coughing, sneezing or even just talking. Folks are contagious a day before symptoms appear and up to a week after getting sick.

It’s also possible to get the flu by touching something with the flu virus on it and then touching your mouth, eyes or nose.

The CDC recommends getting vaccinated as early as possible, as it takes a few weeks to reach full immunity.

Flu shots are an inactivated vaccine made from killed virus, which means it’s impossible to get the flu from the vaccine, explains Dr. Angela Rasmussen, Ph.D, an infectious disease expert.

There are currently three flu shots being produced in the U.S.: the regular (intramuscular) seasonal flu shot, a high-dose vaccine for people 65 and older, and an intradermal (injected into the skin) vaccine for people ages 18 to 64.

A nasal-spray flu vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses (which also do not cause the flu) is available to healthy people ages 2 to 49 years old, except pregnant women. The most common side effect from a flu shot is soreness at the injection site.

The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and up get an annual flu vaccine. Even if you don’t think you need a flu shot, consider that you can be a flu carrier without feeling sick and spread it to loved ones around you, says Jack Cantlin, a pharmacist and the divisional vice president of retail clinical services at Walgreens.

Folks at greater risk for serious complications from the flu include the elderly, young children, pregnant women and nursing home residents. People with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and chronic lung disease—as well as those who work with them—are also at risk.

“People at high risk should talk with their doctor about getting a high-dose 
flu shot, as this can provide better protection for people with immune
 systems that have been weakened by age or other medical conditions,” says Dr. Rasmussen.

She also recommends asking about the pertussis (whooping cough) vaccination, because a pertussis infection coupled with the flu can cause more severe diseases, especially in young children.

People with severe chicken egg allergies, a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome, and those who have had a severe reaction to a flu vaccine in the past should consult their doctor before getting a flu shot.

People who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever should wait to get vaccinated until they are well. Babies under 6 months of age should not get a flu shot.

In addition to doctors' offices and hospitals, flu shots are readily available at most pharmacies for approximately $20 to $30 
(much of which is generally covered by insurance) and can be given without a prescription.

Many employers and 
community organizations also offer flu shot clinics, and non-profit organizations and local governments may offer vouchers for free shots.

To find other places to get a flu shot locally, check out:

• Flu Vaccine Finder 
• Flu Shots at Walgreens
• Flu Shots at CVS