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Flu Shots

Your Locally Owned Drug and Variety Store

Influenza (Flu) (vaccine given annually)

Flu season begins in the Fall and continues throughout Winter and sometimes even into the beginning of Spring. The Flu is a viral infection that attacks the sinuses and lungs. It is characterized by fever, chills, sweats, sinus congestion, body aches, dry cough, and sore throat. Depending on the individual patient, a flu infection can range from mild to potentially life threatening. But the good news is your risk of getting it can be significantly decreased by getting a flu shot early, usually during the Fall every year. There are many flu shots available on the market, but not all flu shots are created equally. We only carry the best. Come by your local Hi-School Pharmacy to see which option is best for you!

Find a Flu Shot Location near you

Flu Symptoms

Flu Shot FAQ’s

WHY SHOULD PEOPLE GET VACCINATED AGAINST THE FLU?

Influenza is a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people differently, but millions of people get the flu every year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and thousands or tens of thousands of people die from flu-related causes every year. An annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to help protect against flu. Vaccination has been shown to have many benefits including reducing the risk of flu illnesses, hospitalizations and even the risk of flu-related death in children.
From the CDC

WHAT SORT OF FLU SEASON IS EXPECTED THIS YEAR?
It’s not possible to predict what this flu season will be like. Flu seasons are unpredictable in a number of ways. While flu spreads every year, the timing, severity, and length of the season varies from one year to another.
WILL THE UNITED STATES HAVE A FLU EPIDEMIC?
The United States experiences epidemics of seasonal flu each year. This time of year is called “flu season.” In the United States, flu season occurs in the winter; flu outbreaks can happen as early as October and can last as late as May. CDC says the flu season begins when certain key flu indicators (for example, levels of influenza-like illness (ILI), hospitalization and deaths) rise and remain elevated for a number of consecutive weeks. Usually ILI increases first, followed by an increase in hospitalizations, which is then followed by increases in flu-associated deaths.
WILL NEW FLU VIRUSES CIRCULATE THIS SEASON?
Flu viruses are constantly changing so it’s not unusual for new flu viruses to appear each year. For more information about how flu viruses change, visit How the Flu Virus Can Change.
WHEN WILL FLU ACTIVITY BEGIN AND WHEN WILL IT PEAK?
The timing of flu is very unpredictable and can vary in different parts of the country and from season to season. Most seasonal flu activity typically occurs between October and May. Flu activity most commonly peaks in the United States between December and March.
WHAT SHOULD I DO TO PROTECT MYSELF FROM FLU THIS SEASON?

CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older as the first and most important step in protecting against this serious disease. People should begin getting vaccinated soon after flu vaccine becomes available, if possible by October, to ensure that as many people as possible are protected before flu season begins. However, as long as flu viruses are circulating in the community, it’s not too late to get vaccinated.

In addition to getting a seasonal flu vaccine if you have not already gotten vaccinated, you can take everyday preventive actions like staying away from sick people and washing your hands to reduce the spread of germs. If you are sick with flu, stay home from work or school to prevent spreading flu to others.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I GET SICK WITH THE FLU?

Antiviral drugs are prescription drugs that can be used to treat flu illness. People at high risk of serious flu complications (such as children younger than 2 years, adults 65 and older, pregnant women, and people with certain medical conditions) and people who are very sick with flu (such as those hospitalized because of flu) should get antiviral drugs. Some other people can be treated with antivirals at their health care professional’s discretion. Treating high risk people or people who are very sick with flu with antiviral drugs is very important. Studies show that prompt treatment with antiviral drugs can prevent serious flu complications. Prompt treatment can mean the difference between having a milder illness versus very serious illness that could result in a hospital stay.

Treatment with antivirals works best when begun within 48 hours of getting sick, but can still be beneficial when given later in the course of illness. Antiviral drugs are effective across all age-and risk groups. Studies show that antiviral drugs are under-prescribed for people who are at high risk of complications who get flu. This season, three FDA-approved influenza antiviral drugs are recommended for use in the United States: oseltamivir, zanamivir and peramivir.

WHAT SHOULD I DO TO PROTECT MY LOVED ONES FROM FLU?

Encourage your loved ones to get vaccinated. Vaccination is especially important for people at high risk for serious flu complications, and their close contacts. Also, if you have a loved one who is at high risk of flu complications and who develops flu symptoms, encourage him or her to get a medical evaluation. He or she might need treatment with influenza antiviral drugs. CDC recommends that people who are at high risk for serious flu complications who get the flu be treated with influenza antiviral drugs as quickly as possible. People who are not at high risk for serious flu complications who get the flu may be treated with influenza antiviral drugs at their doctor’s discretion. Children between 6 months and 8 years of age may need two doses of flu vaccine to be fully protected from flu. The two doses should be given at least 4 weeks apart. Your child’s doctor or other health care professional can tell you whether your child needs two doses. If your child does need two doses of vaccine to be fully protected, it is a good idea to begin the vaccination process sooner rather than later. Visit Children, the Flu, and the Flu Vaccine for more information.

Children younger than 6 months are at higher risk of serious flu complications, but are too young to get a flu vaccine. Because of this, safeguarding them from flu is especially important. If you live with or care for an infant younger than 6 months of age, you should get a flu vaccine to help protect them from flu. See Advice for Caregivers of Young Children for more information.

In addition to getting vaccinated, you and your loved ones can take everyday preventive actions like staying away from sick people and washing your hands to reduce the spread of germs. If you are sick with flu, stay home from work or school to prevent spreading influenza to others.

WHEN SHOULD I GET VACCINATED?

CDC recommends that people get vaccinated against flu soon after vaccine becomes available.

It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against the flu.

WHAT KIND OF VACCINES ARE AVAILABLE IN HI-SCHOOL PHARMACIES?
This season:

  • Quadrivalent
  • High Dose

Be sure to check with the pharmacy for availability.

See Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine and How Flu Vaccines Are Made for more information.

WHEN WILL FLU VACCINE BECOME AVAILABLE?
We expect to have flu vaccines available in most of our pharmacies in mid to late August.
Please call the pharmacy before going in to check availability.