Flu shots for 2013-14 season

[BedokAmerican]

Does anybody know when the flu shots for the 2013-14 season come out? Are they already available? Do pharmacies give them or do you have to go to a doctor/hospital/clinic? To anyone who's had the shot in Singapore in the past, about how much did it cost?

In the U.S., the new shots come out in late Aug/early Sept but I don't know if it's different here because from what I've read, Sg has 2 flu seasons. However, I understand the shot is the same worldwide.

Thanks for any information you can provide.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Flu shots? I have heard of them since I left the US 30 years ago. Don't think they have them here. Or at least not that I'm aware of.

[Grumpy77]

I get one every year. Just go to a local GP or one of the poly-clinics in Sept/Oct. Cost is ~$25-50 depending if you use a private clinic or local one.

Well worth the money to never get a flu...

[sundaymorningstaple]

I haven't had the flu since I was 7 years old and have never had a flu shot in my life. Guess that's why I never think about it.

[AndrewV]

interested to know as well, planning on doing a trip to canada in 2 weeks time

[BedokAmerican]

interested to know as well, planning on doing a trip to canada in 2 weeks time

I just had my flu shot today at the condo's walk-in clinic, Clinic @ Costa, 84 Bayshore Rd #01-36. The phone number is 6243-3638.

When I walked in and asked the receptionist about it, she said the vaccine just came in. I waited about 5 minutes to see the doctor, got the shot, and was on my way. I saw the small rectangular box the doctor removed the shot from and it said 2013-2014 so it was definitely this year's vaccine. Cost was $32.

However, I'm not sure if the vaccine has made it to all the doctor's offices island-wide. I called my son's pediatrician's office today and was told the new flu shot hadn't been received yet. I'll probably end up taking him to the condo clinic.

We're heading to the U.S. for a visit in Nov-Dec so getting this shot has been a priority.

[Barry Brendantara]

I would think it's better to enhance your immune system rather than rely on an external response to prevent such problems of flu.

I travel around the world and if I do get any flu, it does not last more than a day and in the last 5 years, I probably had just the common cold perhaps 3 times.

Think of it this way... if you constantly rely on external medication, your body "forgets" how to heal itself thus, rendering your immune system not knowing how to defend your body. I hope that makes sense for you

[sundaymorningstaple]

^^This.

[Grumpy77]

Those of you born and blessed with awesome immune systems are to be commended. For the rest of us lowly high-risk types, we need to rely on a jab... Sorry for that!

[sundaymorningstaple]

It's okay, but it does bugger all for using up sick days or getting sympathy from the motherly types of birds!

[Steve1960]

It's okay, but it does bugger all for using up sick days or getting sympathy from the motherly types of birds!

Remember a mild common cold is 'man flu' so you can still use those sick days and go for the sympathy

[sundaymorningstaple]

[BedokAmerican]

I would think it's better to enhance your immune system rather than rely on an external response to prevent such problems of flu.

I travel around the world and if I do get any flu, it does not last more than a day and in the last 5 years, I probably had just the common cold perhaps 3 times.

Think of it this way... if you constantly rely on external medication, your body "forgets" how to heal itself thus, rendering your immune system not knowing how to defend your body. I hope that makes sense for you

It's amazing how many people don't know the difference between the common cold or a sniffle versus the flu. If you have a stuffy nose/sore throat/cough for just a few days, that's NOT the flu. Also, the flu isn't caused by cold weather or turning the air conditioning on a low setting. That might cause a runny nose, but it's not the flu. Folks, do some research on the "common cold" versus the "flu."

There are so many myths out there, especially with some of the anti-vaccine rhetoric going around. People are entitled to their opinions and choices, but facts are facts.

The flu is very dangerous, particularly to children and the elderly:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/children.htm
You can take precautions and wash your hands, but that's not fool-proof.

A child's immune system is built up by crawling on the floor, touching playground equipment, putting toys that belong to another kid in their mouth, biting/teething on the sides of grocery carts that have been handled by thousands of people, fending off minor sniffles from time to time, etc. As an adult, you touch door knobs, shake hands, use someone else's keyboard, press buttons on the lifts touched by thousands of others, fend off minor sniffles or the common cold, etc.

Exposing a child (or yourself) to a potentially life-threatening illness such as the flu by not having them vaccinated is not going to improve their immune system. Getting the flu shot/jab helps one's body fend off the illness.