What Are The Side Effects Of The Flu Vaccine
Common side effects of the flu vaccine include: soreness, redness or swelling at the injection site, fever, headache, nausea, and muscle aches.
Less common side effects may include: fainting, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and allergic reactions .
Egg Allergy: Since eggs are used in the production of some flu vaccines, those with a life-threatening egg allergy should only receive a flu shot in a medical facility that is prepared to handle a severe allergic reaction . Those who have experienced only hives from a flu shot may still receive the vaccine.
What Are The Symptoms Of Shingles
Shingles is a painful rash that develops on one side of the face or body. The rash forms blisters that typically scab over in 7-10 days. Shingles typically takes 2-4 weeks to clear up.
People often feel pain, itching, or tingling in the area 1-5 days before the rash appears.
Most commonly, shingles forms a single stripe of rash on either the left or right hemisphere of the body. Occasionally, the rash occurs on one side of the face. Less commonly, the rash looks similar to chickenpox and is spread more liberally . Shingles can sometimes affect the eyes and cause loss of vision.
Other symptoms of shingles can include fever, headache, chills and upset stomach.
How Effective Are The Fda
All three vaccines have proven to be equally effective at preventing hospitalization and death related to COVID-19. While Moderna and Pfizer require two doses and strict cold storage requirements, the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine only requires one dose and can be kept in regular refrigerators . In U.S. trials, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was 72% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 after one dose. The Pfizer vaccine is 95% effective and the Moderna vaccine is 94.1% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 after two doses.
Learn more about the science and effectiveness of FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines here.
As of 4/23/21, the pause on the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine has been lifted. Learn more.
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Rite Aid Launches Vaccine Central To Promote Vaccinations
- More than 25% of U.S. women who reported receiving a flu vaccine in the past year did so at a drug store
- Approximately 3-in-10 women consult their pharmacists about infectious diseases, vaccines and immunizations and
- The misconception that a flu shot causes the flu was the leading response as to why survey participants did not receive the vaccine.
Do I Get To Pick Which Vaccine I Receive
When scheduling an appointment, you can select which vaccine type you prefer , but please note that the best vaccine is the one thats immediately available to you. While scheduling your appointment, youll be able to search available appointments by vaccine type and can change your selection at any time. Vaccine availability varies by location and not all may be available in all areas.Individuals 12-17 are only currently authorized to receive the Pfizer vaccine, and will only be able to book an appointment for a Pfizer vaccine. Individuals 5-11 are only currently authorized to receive a pediatric version of the Pfizer vaccine, and will only be able to book an appointment for that vaccine type, beginning 11/4.All vaccines currently available in the United States are effective at preventing COVID-19, and were proud to administer them in our communities. Check the CDCs website for more information.
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Health Worker: Rite Aid Throws Away Extra Covid
This story has been updated with a new statement from Rite Aid.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. A Sacramento public health worker is looking for answers from Rite Aid after she was told by several pharmacists they throw away their extra COVID-19 vaccines.
Curiosity turned into complete shock for a public health worker who called the Rite Aid pharmacy off of Watt Avenue to see if they had any extra doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The worker spoke to FOX40 under the condition of anonymity.
She said, Well, again, were only vaccinating people 65 and older, so I said, Well, do you just mean youre going to throw them away at the end of the night? And she said, Yeah, we just throw them away,’ the worker told FOX40.
She called another Rite Aid off of Norwood Avenue to see if they would have a different answer.
They basically confirmed the same thing, the health worker said. They said they didnt have vaccine leftover but if they did, they can only go to someone 65 and older.
Rite Aid currently accepts appointments for those in Californias Phase 1A vaccination plan between 10 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. After vaccinating high priority groups first, CDHP policy says they can administer any extra or near-expired doses to lower priority groups, but these frozen doses have to be defrosted with a shelf life of only six hours.
COVID-19 vaccines are also becoming more scarce after recent winter weather affected supply rollout.
How Do I Schedule An Appointment
Rite Aid is administering vaccines in every one of our locations. For children ages 5-11, appointments are available in select stores.
Visit our scheduler to book an appointment.* Limited walk-ins are accommodated from 2-3pm only
* Please note: for all minors 5+ receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, they are only eligible to receive a specific vaccine type. Additionally, a parent or guardian must book their appointment and sign a consent form on their behalf, and they must be accompanied by an adult at their vaccination appointment. For individuals 5-11, COVID-19 vaccines are only available in select stores.
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How To Schedule An Appointment
Individuals ages 18 and over can schedule appointments using the Rite Aid scheduling tool found at www.RiteAid.com/covid-19.
Those ages 16 and 17 can schedule an appointment with guardian consent at any store administering the Pfizer vaccine by contacting the stores pharmacy directly. Those stores can be found here.
Other People Who Are Age 18 Years And Older
People who are ages 18 years and older may get a booster shot based on their individual risks and benefits. This recommendation may change in the future as more data become available.
All people ages 18 years and older who received a J& J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine at least 2 months ago should get a booster shot, for a total of two shots. A single dose of the J& J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine has lower vaccine effectiveness compared to two doses.
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Bring your CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record card to your booster shot appointment so your provider can fill in the information about your booster dose.If you did not receive a card at your first appointment, contact the vaccination site where you got your first shot or your state health department to find out how you can get a card.
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You may experience side effects after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. These are normal signs that your body is building protection against COVID-19.
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Use v-safe to tell CDC about any side effects.If you enter yourbooster shot in your
v-safe account, the system will send you daily health check-ins.
Yes. COVID-19 booster shots are the same formulation as the current COVID-19 vaccines. However, in the case of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine booster shot, it is half the dose of the vaccine people get for their primary series.
Studies show after getting vaccinated against COVID-19, protection against the virus and the ability to prevent infection with the Delta variant may decrease over time.
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Rite Aid Introduces Digital Covid
Rite Aid is offering customers the ability to digitally access and share their proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
The drugstore chain is partnering with secure identity company Clear to enable customers vaccinated at any Rite Aid location to supplement their paper vaccination card with a verified digital version accessible on their mobile device. The secure digital vaccine card can be linked to Clears Health Pass screening solution that has been used by more than 130 organizations.
To create a digital vaccine card, customers vaccinated at Rite Aid will first download and enroll in the free Clear app, and then scan their smart QR code from the email or SMS notification they receive from Rite Aid after receiving a COVID-19 vaccination.
To enroll in the program, users download the free Clear app, tap the blue digital vaccine card tile, and then verify their identity by uploading an identifying document and snapping a quick selfie. Users then tap the Rite Aid tile from CLEARs list of providers and take a photo of their smart QR code after receiving an email or SMS notification with their unique link. Their proof of vaccination is then verified and a digital vaccine card is created.
Rite Aid is following in the footsteps of Walmart, which began enabling customers to securely store their COVID-19 vaccine record in their pharmacy account on Walmart.com or Samsclub.com in . The vaccine record can be printed, saved on a device, or shared at the discretion of the consumer.
What Is The Tetanus Vaccine
Four combination vaccines used to prevent diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis are: DTaP, Tdap, DT, and Td. DTaP and DT are given to children younger than seven years of age, and Tdap and Td are given to adults and older children.
It is recommended that children get five doses of DTaP, one dose at each of the following ages: 2, 4, 6, and 15-18 months and 4-6 years. DT does not contain pertussis, and is a substitute for DTaP among children who cannot tolerate the pertussis vaccine.
Td is a tetanus-diphtheria vaccine given to adults and adolescents every 10 years, or after an exposure to tetanus. Tdap is similar to Td but also contains protection against pertussis. Adults 19 and older and adolescents 11-18 years of age should receive a single dose of Tdap. Women should receive Tdap during each of their pregnancies in the third trimester between the 27th and 36th week. Tdap should also be given to 7-10 year olds who have not been immunized against pertussis. Tdap can be given no matter when Td was last received.
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Are There Medicines To Treat The Flu
Common flu symptoms may include fever or chills, muscle aches, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache and fatigue/tiredness. If you have flu symptoms get plenty of rest, drink fluids, and manage symptoms with over-the-counter OTC medications when appropriate. If symptoms continue to worsen, contact your healthcare provider.
If I’m Not In An Eligible Group When Can I Get A Booster
All vaccines are effective at reducing the risk of severe disease, hospitalization and death, and the best way to protect yourself and your community from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated in the first place. Boosters are not yet authorized for every individual. Outside of the groups eligible today, additional recommendations may be made as more data becomes available.
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How Do I Schedule My Second Dose Appointment If Needed
Not every vaccine type requires a second dose, but if the vaccine appointment you schedule does require a second dose, Rite Aid automatically reserves a second dose for you. Second dose appointment information will be sent to you within 72 hours after you receive your first dose.If you received a dose somewhere else but would like to schedule one at Rite Aid, schedule an appointment. Youll be asked to confirm which vaccine youve received and the date you received it.A select group of moderately to severely immunocompromised people have been of either Pfizer or Moderna .
Schedule Your Free* Flu Shot
The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses. Schedule your appointment for individuals 3+ today!
* No cost with insurance after satisfaction of any applicable deductible.Flu shots available while supplies last. Ask your pharmacist for details. Age restrictions apply in some states.
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How Do The Fda
The Moderna and Pfizer FDA-authorized vaccines use mRNA technology to boost your bodys immune response.
While COVID-19 may seem new to many of us, researchers have been studying coronaviruses for over 50 years. During this time, theyve also been learning how mRNA technology can help develop effective vaccines. mRNA can be thought of as a set of instructions that tell your bodys cells how to make proteins.
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The mRNA vaccine tells your body to make a small, non-infective portion of the outer part of the COVID-19 virus particle called a spike protein.
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This trains your immune system to recognize the virus and your body responds by building antibodies.
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Later, if you are exposed to the real virus, these antibodies are then able to attack it and prevent you from getting sick. The antibodies ability to prevent sickness is what is meant when people say a vaccine provides immunity.
A key benefit of mRNA vaccines is that the process to develop them can be standardized and scaled up more efficiently than other methods, which has been especially important in our response to COVID-19.
The cell displays the spike protein on its surface, and our immune system recognizes it doesnt belong there. This triggers our immune system to begin producing antibodies and activating other immune cells to fight off what it thinks is an infection.
There are two other vaccines that are currently in their Phase 3 large-scale clinical trials. Learn more here.
What Is Rite Aid Doing To Keep Customers Safe
The safety of our associates, customers and communities is our number one priority. During this unprecedented crisis, we are taking many extra precautions to continue to serve our customers during a time when they need our help the most. We follow local guidance regarding protective measures, such as capacity limits.
Our stores, pharmacies and distribution centers are all following CDC guidance to help stop the spread of the virus.
Our stores and distribution centers are using cleaning kits that include hand sanitizers, wipes, masks and gloves. We are cleaning more frequently and constantly disinfecting high-traffic surfaces throughout these locations. We follow strict cleaning procedures per CDC guidance when an associate has tested positive for COVID-19 or is presumed to have a case of COVID-19, including closing the store for a comprehensive sanitizing regimen, when necessary.
We also offer services such as delivery, drive thru , 90 day script refills and much more.
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Rite Aid Agrees To Make Vaccine Signup Portal Accessible After Doj Steps In
Photo: Greta Hoffman/Pexels
The Department of Justice announced this week that it had secured an agreement with Rite Aid Corporation, aimed at ensuring its vaccination registration portal is accessible to people with disabilities.
A notice from the DOJ pointed out that the registration signup page, in its original incarnation, was not accessible for some people, including people who use screen-reader software and those who have a hard time using a mouse.
“Equal access to healthcare is one of the most important rights guaranteed by the Americans with Disabilities Act,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division in a statement.
“As the nation continues its response to the COVID-19 pandemic through booster shots, vaccinations for children under 12, and ongoing outreach to those still in need of initial doses people with disabilities must be able to schedule potentially lifesaving vaccine appointments as easily as people without disabilities can,” Clarke continued.
WHY IT MATTERS
As the press release notes, the portal Rite Aid used presented hurdles to accessibility for many people with disabilities.
Given the relative danger of COVID-19 for many people with disabilities, this hurdle to vaccination had particularly troubling potential consequences.
As a condition of entering the agreement, the company denied that it had violated the ADA.
THE LARGER TREND
ON THE RECORD
Kat Jercich is senior editor of Healthcare IT News.
Rite Aid Now Offering Covid
Vaccines for COVID-19 are now available at all Rite Aid stores, according to a press release from the company.
The Camp Hill based pharmacy chain announced that the vaccines are currently available at all of its more than 2,500 locations, found in 17 states. Rite Aid will be distributing all three of the major variants of the vaccine currently available: Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson.
Following the latest guidance from the Biden Administration, all those aged 16 years or older are now eligible for vaccination, and Rite Aid encourages everyone to schedule an appointment as soon as possible, reads the press release.
The chain suggests that visitors schedule appointments in advance to guarantee availability and reduce wait time, though some walk-in appointments will be available. Customers looking for walk-in vaccinations are encouraged to visit their local Rite Aid to confirm availability.
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Can Customers Pay For Their Prescriptions Via Text Message Rite Aid Mobile App Or Phone
All stores are currently offering “Pay n Go pre-pay services for prescriptions. Patients who are signed up for Prescription Notifications at eligible stores will have an option to pre-pay for their pharmacy order when they receive their Your Prescription is Ready text or email with a link to pay.
We are also encouraging the use of contactless payments like Apple Pay, Android Pay and contactless cards, which allow you to hold your card near the pin pad to be read wirelessly. Contact your bank for more information on contactless credit cards.
A supply of finger covers are available at each register, and customers are encouraged to use one if they need to touch our pin pad payment units.
Justice Department Secures Settlement With Rite Aid Corporation To Make Its Online Covid
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and the Justice Department announced an Americans with Disabilities Act settlement agreement with Rite Aid Corporation to ensure that people with disabilities can get information about COVID-19 vaccinations and book their vaccinations online. Rite Aid is a publicly owned national drug store chain with its headquarters located in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.
According to Acting United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, a department compliance review discovered that individuals with vision and mobility impairments could not access a portion of Rite Aids website known as the COVID-19 Vaccine Registration Portal, currently located at . For example, those who use screen reader software and those who have difficulty using a mouse could not successfully select a date and time for their appointment and were unable to make some yes or no selections during the appointment registration process.
Title III of the ADA requires public accommodations like drugstores and grocery stores to provide individuals with disabilities with full and equal enjoyment of goods and services. The ADA also requires public accommodations to provide effective communication with people with disabilities, including through auxiliary aids and services like accessible technology.
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