Walk-up Flu Shot

stevej37 · 07:58 AM

Went to Walmart early for a flu shot. Their pharmacy opens at 9 and there were at least 25 people waiting in line for the same thing.
Almost walked out to try another time when I noticed three windows were open and the line was moving fast. Then I noticed that no one was given the large sheet of 100 questions to fill out before given the shot.

Got called to the window and the lady says "Do you have your phone with you?"
She pointed at a QR code on the desk and said...."It's all done from that"

I scanned it....walked over to an open area and verified my id and answered the questions all on my phone. Entered 'done' and a couple minutes later they called me for my shot and I was out of the store all done in about 10 minutes.
(there was even a box to check for enhanced or unenhanced shot)

Easy Peasy!

Skytrooper · Skytrooper's Garage

I just got back from CVS. I did the online appointment scheduling. It great ! No line, no waiting, fit my schedule. I am very happy with how easy it was.

Steve Carlton · 12-19-2025, 09:40 AM

Kaiser has a drive-through. I have to stop the car for a couple of minutes, though.

masraum · 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevej37

(there was even a box to check for enhanced or unenhanced shot)

What the hell is an "enhanced" shot? Does it come with the microsoft/apple/google tracking chip or a happy ending or something?

I guess it's one of the "high-dose" versions for you old dudes.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/flu/expert-answers/fluzone/faq-20058032

Quote:

How are high-dose flu vaccines different from other flu vaccines?

Compared with standard flu vaccines, high-dose flu vaccines have more of an ingredient that boosts the immune response. The ingredient is a flu virus antigen called hemagglutinin. High-dose flu vaccines may have 3 to 4 times as much flu virus antigen as the standard flu vaccine.

There's also a flu vaccine that boosts immune response using an ingredient called an adjuvant. These shots have the same amount of flu virus antigen as a standard flu shot. But the adjuvant helps the body respond to the vaccine. This type of flu shot is called an adjuvanted flu vaccine.

High-dose and adjuvanted flu vaccines can help people have a stronger immune response against influenza.

For this reason, high-dose and adjuvanted flu vaccines are recommended for people age 65 and older. These vaccines also may be available to people ages 18 to 64 who have had solid organ transplants.

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccine-types/flu-zone.html

Quote:

About Fluzone High-Dose vaccine

Fluzone High-Dose vaccine contains four times the antigen as standard dose flu vaccines. It is manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur Inc. Fluzone High-Dose is a three-component (trivalent) flu vaccine. It is one of three flu vaccines (along with Flublok and Fluad) that are preferentially recommended for people 65 years and older. There is no preferential recommendation for people younger than 65 years.

People who can receive Fluzone High-Dose vaccine

In the United States, Fluzone High-Dose vaccine is approved for people 65 years and older. Fluzone High-Dose is not approved for people younger than 65 years but is recommended as an acceptable option for flu vaccination (along with other age-appropriate inactivated and recombinant flu vaccines) for people 18 through 64 years who have had a solid organ transplant and are taking immunosuppressive medications. People of any age with a history of severe allergic reaction to any flu vaccine or to vaccine components other than eggs should not receive Fluzone High-Dose. Information about vaccine ingredients is located in the manufacturer's package insert.

stevej37 · 12-19-2025, 09:58 AM

^^^
I didn't realize what was happening when in my mid 60's I started getting terrible side effects after a flu shot. I'm a person that has hardly ever had a headache, but 6 hrs or so after the flu shots, I would get severe migraine headaches that would last a full day.
So bad, that if I barely grazed my hair, it would feel like needles in my head. Aspirin wouldn't touch it.

I complained to the Dr and he said "ask for the unenhanced" which I did and no more headaches after.
Dr also said my immune system is likely stronger and is fighting it.

If you don't request it, after age 65 they auto inject the stronger one.

.

stevej37 · 12-19-2025, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

Kaiser has a drive-through. I have to stop the car for a couple of minutes, though.

They give shots thru a drive-through? I can see that being hard to do with some cars and trucks.

Steve Carlton · 12-19-2025, 10:16 AM

Don't take the Subaru SVX.

stevej37 · 12-19-2025, 10:17 AM

Or a 914

rfuerst911sc · 12-19-2025, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevej37

Or a 914

Take the targa roof off and stick your arm straight up

Steve Carlton · 12-19-2025, 12:04 PM

They have a scalp shot, too.

masraum · 12-19-2025, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^
I didn't realize what was happening when in my mid 60's I started getting terrible side effects after a flu shot. I'm a person that has hardly ever had a headache, but 6 hrs or so after the flu shots, I would get severe migraine headaches that would last a full day.
So bad, that if I barely grazed my hair, it would feel like needles in my head. Aspirin wouldn't touch it.

I complained to the Dr and he said "ask for the unenhanced" which I did and no more headaches after.
Dr also said my immune system is likely stronger and is fighting it.

If you don't request it, after age 65 they auto inject the stronger one.

.

Interesting, I've run into similar before.
I didn't have an issue with the 2 or 3 covid shots that I got, but when I was in college, I got a new measels shot, and I felt like crap (fever, aches, etc...) starting a few hours later and for the rest of that day. I think I've had similar reactions to one or two other shots ,including flu, over the years.

masraum · 12-19-2025, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve carlton

don't take the subaru svx.

roflmao!

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve carlton

they have a scalp shot, too.

what?!? Nfw!

stevej37 · 12-19-2025, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masraum

Interesting, I've run into similar before.
I didn't have an issue with the 2 or 3 covid shots that I got, but when I was in college, I got a new measels shot, and I felt like crap (fever, aches, etc...) starting a few hours later and for the rest of that day. I think I've had similar reactions to one or two other shots ,including flu, over the years.

The Dr. also told me that about half of his senior patients ask for the non-enhanced flu shots for the same reasons I gave.

With any shot it's common to get a sore arm....but having extreme headaches for a full day makes one wonder if the flu might be better. (just joking) I had the flu once in the 90's and will never forget it....it lasted a couple weeks.

.

rwest · rwest's Garage

A few years ago the nurse giving the shots told me that you should exercise the arm that you get the shot in for a while afterwards, supposedly it helps the shot move around?

I do pushups right after now and move my arm around a bunch.

Cajundaddy · Cajundaddy's Garage

The flu is currently raging in our area but I am taking a break on jabs of any kind for a while until the FDA and CDC get over themselves and recover from the covid jab debacle.

Daily vitamin supplements, 30 minutes in the spa @104F every night. So far, so good.

stevej37 · 12-19-2025, 01:31 PM

^^^ The nurse that gave me the shot told me two times to turn my chair more away from her. (It started with the two almost parallel)
She said that if the shot doesn't go straight in...it creates more arm soreness. (First time I've heard that)

Steve Carlton · 12-19-2025, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masraum

what?!? Nfw!

Just for 914 owners.

stevej37 · 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

Just for 914 owners.

I owned a 914 for about 5 years in the 80's. One summer day, a buddy and I took it to Detroit for a Tiger game. Top off, traveling down the John Lodge Freeway at rush hour....I said 'never again'. When the truck tires are twice the height of your car and they are moving at 70mph on all sides of you....it's scary. Shortest (height) car I've owned.

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masraum · 12-19-2025, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevej37

I owned a 914 for about 5 years in the 80's. One summer day, a buddy and I took it to Detroit for a Tiger game. Top off, traveling down the John Lodge Freeway at rush hour....I said 'never again'. When the truck tires are twice the height of your car and they are moving at 70mph on all sides of you....it's scary. Shortest (height) car I've owned.

.

According to wikipedia, a 914 is 48.4" tall. Even lowered, I wouldn't think it would be much lower. I had 2 miatas, and they were both supposed to be the same height. One was lowered a bit, so maybe as low as 47" on that one. I once chatted with a guy that drove a Beck 550 (40" tall) from Houston to somewhere is Louisiana on I10 (200-250 miles or so). He said that was a bit uncomfortable.

stevej37 · 02:39 PM

^^^ It's not so bad on the open road...but being boxed in on the freeway is something I don't find fun. One wrong move by one of the trucks and they wouldn't even know they hit something.

I was also not used to that kind of traffic at that time....living on the west side.

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