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COVID-19, Influenza, Shingles, Pneumonia, Tuberculosis, Chickenpox, Meningitis ACWY, HepA, HepB, Hib, MMR, HPV, Tdap, etc… with all the different vaccines out there, it’s very easy to feel overwhelmed when the doctor tells us we need all of them. It's at this point we ask ourselves, since there's so many, “Can we safely get them at the same time?” and if so, “Will they still work just the same”? Well, you're in luck because the CDC just so happens to have that information.
Simultaneous administration of non-live vaccines is deemed safe and has not been proven any less effective than if done one at a time, including the COVID-19 vaccines. While most vaccines are administered when we are very young, various vaccines like Shingles and Pneumonia are more appropriate at 50 or 18 years of age with immunocompromising conditions and 65 years of age, respectively. Then there’s the annual Flu shot, and the more recent COVID-19 vaccines that are only currently approved in 12 (Pfizer) or 18-year-olds (Moderna and J&J).
It's because the majority of vaccines are non-live or inactivated vaccines, with the exceptions being MMR, Rotavirus, Smallpox, Chickenpox and Yellow Fever. These non-live vaccines do not contain the live virus or bacteria, and therefore makes it impossible to get sick from these vaccines themselves.
The only catch is the severity for the possible post-vaccine flu-like symptoms can range from no discomfort to substantial discomfort, and that you’d have to receive each vaccine in different shoulders or at a minimum of one inch apart – double the potential for sore shoulders, sure, but four times as convenient! Now we aren't mathematicians, but that still seems worth it. This is especially true if you’re the type to procrastinate or forget your vaccines. The simultaneous administration approach provides you with a four birds with one stone opportunity rather than get each separately and risk missing one.
If you have any further questions regarding the following vaccines or their simultaneous administration, don't hesitate to contact Kohll’s Rx for more information.
If you haven’t already heard, and we’re fairly confident you have, there’s a latest and not-so-greatest bug out there causing a global pandemic. COVID-19, or ‘CO‘rona ‘VI'rus ‘D‘isease, is brought on by the SARS-CoV-2 virus (a close relative to the notorious SARS and MERS). With the pandemic still ensuing, it's tough to tell just where the virus and its mutations will take us (i.e., Delta variant). Today, 208 million cases worldwide have left us grieving 4.37 million loved ones, with a significant percentage of them having passed away here in our own country.
At this time, only 57% of the U.S. population have received at least one dose. However, of those, nearly 50% have fully vaccinated by receiving their second dose. As we write this article, it seems a 3rd dose will be recommended for everyone at some point. Kohll’s started administering 3rd doses as of August 13th to immunocompromised people. We’ll know shortly or may already know by the time you read this article when the rest of the public will be able to receive their 3rd dose. It’s likely that the 3rd dose will be recommended 8 months after their 2nd dose.
If possible, the 3rd dose should be the same manufacturer as the first 2 doses. Meaning, if you received Moderna for the first 2 doses, then stay with Moderna. Likewise with Pfizer. Nonetheless, if the vaccinator is out of the COVID vaccine that you received for your first 2 doses, it’s still ok to use the other manufacturer you didn’t originally have administered with the first 2 doses.
If you received J&J for your original covid vaccine. It has not been determined if a 2nd dose is necessary at this time.
And if you have yet to get the 1st dose in the COVID-19 vaccination series, it’s never too late to start!
Kohll's Rx proudly offers three available brands of the COVID-19 vaccine (Moderna, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson/Janssen). We are ready to help you on your journey of protecting not only yourself but your loved ones too! Call or stop by your nearby Kohll's Rx, or conveniently schedule an appointment online, and we'll take care of the rest from there.
It’s about that time of year again! Fall is coming, and although we remember Fall’s when the temperature starts dipping and the leaves start changing, we often forget that the flu begins spreading too. Each year, a vaccine is developed and distributed to hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies. The effectiveness of that year’s vaccine is dependent on how much the virus is mutating. While the vaccine may not effectively prevent infection 100% of the time, it may help reduce the duration and symptoms. Therefore, the CDC recommends that all who are eligible to receive a dose do so.
Kohll’s Rx has been a reliable annual provider of the flu vaccine for many decades, and you can sign up to receive one at a nearby location when the time comes by calling, stopping in, or making an appointment online.
Herpes zoster, more commonly known as Shingles, is caused by the same virus as Chickenpox (Varicella zoster). However, while Chickenpox is typically milder and more limited to children, Shingles is quite the opposite. Reactivation of the dormant virus, more common in older adults, results in a tingling sensation followed by a distinct rash that can cause extreme itchiness and intense pain, lasting anywhere from a month up to several years!
Someone who has never had Chickenpox cannot develop Shingles. However, exposure to Shingles may lead to a subsequent Chickenpox episode, making it possible to experience Shingles in the future. The CDC has recommended healthy adults over the age of 50 receive their Shingrix series since its approval in 2017 but, as of July 2021, Shingrix is now approved for immunocompromised adults that are at least 18 years of age too!
Kohll’s Rx is committed to providing you the best care that you need, and we’re happy to help! So call in, stop by, or sign up for your Shingrix vaccine today by making an appointment online.
Lower respiratory tract infections, like Pneumonia, are the 4th leading cause of death globally at 4 million per year, trailing only to heart disease, stroke and COPD (if we exclude COVID-19). Around 44,000 Americans will succumb to Pneumonia acquired at a hospital or in the community this year alone. While some may develop a standalone case of Pneumonia, most will experience Pneumonia as an infection secondary to another health complication, putting them at even greater risk.
The CDC states this is true in children less than two years of age and in the elderly of 65 years and older, especially when other risk factors accompany advanced age. The good news is there are vaccines to help reduce the chance of contracting Pneumonia and improve the likelihood of beating the nasty thing!
Wouldn’t you know it, Kohll’s has got your back! Or your lungs, rather. Speak with a Kohll’s pharmacist today to see if you can get your pneumonia vaccines or get a head start by signing up for a vaccination appointment online.
Learn more about all of the vaccines offered at Kohll’s Rx or book an appointment today at one of our five convenient locations.
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