Who should get a flu shot?Anyone over the age of 6 months, especially:• People with certain medical conditions including asthma, diabetes and chronic lung disease• Pregnant women• People 65 and over• Those caring for or living with people at high risk of developing complicationsHow to stave off the flu:• Wash your hands with soap and water, or an alcohol based hand sanitizer, often.• Cough and sneeze into the crook of the elbow, not the hand• Avoid those who are ill• Do not share food or drink
Fluzone Intradermal, a vaccine injected into the skin rather than the muscle, boasts a 90 percent smaller needle than the standard Fluzone injection.
“You don’t even realize there’s a needle on there,” said Sally Chumney, nurse practitioner at the CVS Minute Clinic in Riverview. “So if you’re needle-phobic and that’s your main issue, it’s definitely a good option.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the intradermal shot is approved by the FDA for use in adults ages 18-64.
The effectiveness of the shot is the same, experts say.