YOUR AD HERE »

Vail Valley flu vaccine FAQ

Vail Daily
Vail, CO Colorado
Kristin Anderson/Vail DailyGroups of Vail Valley residents wait to get their seasonal flu shot Wednesday at Eagle County Health and Human Services in Avon. The shot was in high demand as the waiting line continued outside to the building's parking lot.
ALL |

VAIL VALLEY, Colorado –Vail Valley residents have lots of questions about the seasonal flu, swine flu and the vaccines for both. Here are some answers:

Will the regular flu shot protect against H1N1?

No. You need a separate H1N1 vaccine.



When will the H1N1 shot be available for young children?

County officials don’t know yet.

Support Local Journalism



When will the H1N1 shot be available for the general public?

“We’re hoping by early 2010 but at this time it just depends on the supplies that we get,” Eagle County epidemiologist Becky Larson said.

Who can get the H1N1 vaccine?

It will be available to high-risk groups first. Once it arrives, check with your doctor to find out whether you qualify as high risk, suggests Jeff Brown, a pediatric hospitalist with the Vail Valley Medical Center.

High risk groups include pregnant women, children six months to four years old, children five years to 18 years old with underlying risks and those who come into frequent contact with children under six months old (think parents, child-care workers), Larson said.

Eventually, it will be available to anyone older than six months, Larson said.

Is the H1N1 vaccine a shot?

Yes. There’s also a nasal mist. The nasal mist is for healthy people ages 2 to 49, Larson said. Pregnant women should not take the nasal mist, she said. Eagle County’s first shipment will be a nasal mist; subsequent shipments likely will include the mist and shots.

What are the risks associated with the H1N1 shot?

There’s a rare risk of getting some flu-like symptoms from the vaccine itself, “but they would pale in comparison to getting H1N1,” Brown said.

Because the vaccine is new, “it remains to be seen how protective the vaccine will be,” he said.

The vaccine is grown in egg, so if you have an egg allergy, check with your doctor before you get it, Brown said.

How much will the H1N1 vaccine cost?

Free through Eagle County’s public health department; private providers can charge an administration fee, Larson said.

Should I get a regular flu shot?

Healthy officials recommend the seasonal flu shot for anyone over six months old.

What are the risks associated with getting the flu shot?

There’s a rare risk of getting slight flu-like symptoms, but they’re far less severe than the flu, Brown said. The vaccine is grown in egg whites, so check with your doctor is you have an egg allergy.

How much does the seasonal flu vaccine cost?

Some insurance plans cover it. You can get it locally for about $10 to $40.

Where can I get the flu shot?

Check with your doctor’s office or try one of these locations.

Name: Eagle Valley Pharmacy in the Vail Valley Medical Center

address: 181 W. meadow Drive, Vail

Phone: 970-479-7253

Adult flu shot: yes

Kids’ flu shot: no

Flu mist: no

Cost: $20

When available: Clinic is 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday for adults 18 and older.

Name: Edwards pharmacy in the Shaw Regional Cancer Center

Address: 322 Beard Creek Road, Edwards

Phone: 970-569-7676

Adult flu shot: yes

Kids’ flu shot: no

Flu mist: no

Cost: $20

When available: Clinic is 1 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday

Name: Eagle Valley Medical Center

address: 377 Sylvan Lake Road, Suite 220

Phone: 970-328-6357

Adult flu shot: yes, for existing patients only

Kids’ flu shot: yes, for existing patients

Flu mist: yes, for existing patients

Cost: $30; accepts some insurance; some insurance plans covers it

When available: 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 2 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday

Name: Eagle County’s walk-in flu clinic

address: 100 W. Beaver Creek Blvd., Avon

Phone: 970-949-7026

Adult flu shot: yes

Kids’ flu shot: yes

Flu mist: yes

Cost: $10 for children 18 and under; $20 for adults

When available: 2 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays Oct. 14, Oct. 21

Name: Eagle County’s walk-in flu clinic

address: 551 Broadway, Eagle

Phone: 970-328-8840

Adult flu shot: yes

Kids’ flu shot: yes

Flu mist: yes

Cost: $10 for children 18 and under; $20 for adults

When available: 2 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays Oct. 14, Oct. 21

Name: City Market, Vail

address: 2109 N. Frontage Road West

Phone: 970-476-1621

Adult flu shot: yes, supplies are limited

Kids’ flu shot: no

Flu mist: no

Cost: $25; accepts insurance; some insurance plans cover it

When available: 9 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Name: City Market, Eagle

address 0103 market street, eagle

Phone: 970-328-1311, hit 0

Adult flu shot: yes

Kids’ flu shot: no

Flu mist: no

Cost: $25; accepts insurance; some insurance companies cover the shots

When available: 9 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday

Name: City Market, Avon

address: 260 Beaver Creek Place

Phone: 970-949-5437

Adult flu shot: temporarily out, but expecting another shipment

Kids’ flu shot: no

Flu mist: no

Cost: $25; accepts insurance; some insurance companies cover the shots

When available: 9 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday

Name: Colorado Mountain Medical

Address: 322 Beard Creek Road, Suite 200, Edwards

Phone: 970-926-6340

Adult flu shot: no

Kids’ flu shot: no

Pediatric flu shot (children 6 to 35 months): Expecting to have it Friday

Flu mist (ages 2 to 49): yes

Cost: $40 mist; pediatric dose $30 ; accepts contracted insurances; some insurance plans covers it

When available: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday

Name: Colorado Mountain Medical

Address: 181 W. Meadow Drive, Suite 800, Vail

Phone: 970-476-7600

Adult flu shot: no

Kids’ flu shot: no

Pediatric flu shot (children 6 to 35 months): expecting to have it Friday

Flu mist (ages 2 to 49): yes

Cost: $40 mist; pediatric dose $30 ; accepts contracted insurances; some insurance plans covers it

When available: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday

Name: Colorado Mountain Medical

Address: 0377 Sylvan Lake Road, Eagle

Phone: 970-328-1650

Adult flu shot: no

Kids flu shot: no

Pediatric flu shot (children 6 to 35 months): expecting to have it Friday

Flu mist (ages 2 to 49): yes

Cost: $40 mist; pediatric dose $30 ; accepts contracted insurances; some insurance plans covers it

When available: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday

=====


Support Local Journalism