SEATTLE — Bartell Drugs has begun its annual seasonal flu vaccination effort, offering flu vaccines at its stores and through an off-site flu clinic program serving area businesses and
retirement communities.
The Puget Sound-area drug chain said Tuesday that flu immunizations are available on a walk-in basis at all of its 61 drug stores during pharmacy hours to those ages 5 and older.
The 2013-14 standard flu vaccine protects against three viruses that research indicates will be the most common this flu season: two influenza A viruses (H1N1 and H3N2) and one influenza B virus.
Bartell Drugs said it’s also offering the newly released quadrivalent flu vaccine, which provides protection for a fourth virus. Quadrivalent vaccines include two B viruses instead of one to ensure reasonable protection regardless of which type B virus circulates during the flu season, the drug chain explained. The vaccine is also available in a FluMist nasal spray.
Bartell urged customers to consult its pharmacists about the availability of quadrivalent flu formulations.
Other flu vaccination options being offered by Bartell include Fluzone High-Dose, which has a higher amount of antigen and is intended for people ages 65 and older, and an intradermal flu vaccine, which is available for those ages 18 to 64 and employs a much smaller needle for injection into the skin, rather than the muscle.
For local businesses or retirement communities with 15 or more employees or residents, Bartell Drugs is offering off-site flu vaccination clinics.
The chain noted that for businesses the program provides a convenient way to rein in lost productivity and employee absences due to sickness. In addition, for retirement communities, the program helps residents protect themselves as well as those around them, some of whom may be at higher risk from complications related to the flu.
