Stay Healthy and Happy This Holiday Season

Posted on December 4, 2017 by Judi

“It’s December and the holiday season is in full swing. As your jolly CVS Pharmacy Ambassador*, I’m here to remind you about ways to stay healthy and happy so you can enjoy this month’s festivities and celebrations.

Did You Get Your Flu Shot?
My boyfriend L and I got our flu shots back in October at our local CVS MinuteClinic. According to the experts at CVS, “Getting a flu shot is the most effective way to protect yourself and your family from catching the flu.”

If you didn’t get your vaccine, you can still get one at CVS’ 9,600 retail pharmacy locations and more than 1,100 walk-in MinuteClinics. The MinuteClinics are open every day, including evenings and weekends, with no appointment needed.

CVS Pharmacy; MinuteClinic; boomer wellness; flu shot

You can get your flu shot at CVS MinuteClinics across the country.

If you do happen to catch the flu, CVS can be a helpful resource. For example, with the CVS Pharmacy mobile app, you can shop via the app, place an order and have it delivered right to your car door with CVS Curbside pickup! This is especially nice when you’re not feeling well.

What About Other Immunizations?
In addition to the flu vaccine, it is important to make sure all your common immunizations are up to date before heading off to a crowded gathering. The CDC says to get the pneumonia vaccine if you are 65+ and the shingles vaccine for those 60+.

Ooh, ooh, ooh, that will include me, me, me next month! I’m going to check out the new shingles vaccine, Shingrix®, that the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) says it prefers for healthy adults aged 50 years and older to prevent shingles and related complications.

Take Care When You Travel
Are you traveling overseas during the holidays? I went to the MinuteClinic before I left for my Viking Ocean Cruise last month. The Nurse Practitioner Karen prescribed medicine for motion sickness, which luckily neither L nor I needed on our voyage. (Stay tuned for my posts about my travels coming soon.)

Viking Star; motion sickness prevention; MinuteClinic; boomer wellness

Before going on an ocean cruise, I went to the MinuteClinic to get medicine for motion sickness.

Are you traveling out of town during the holidays? With the CVS Pharmacy App you’re able to quickly and easily transfer prescriptions to a CVS location nearest you if you forgot your medication.

Health Tips For The Holiday Season
The experts at CVS provided some additional suggestions for staying healthy when your world gets fast-paced: Continue reading →

Stay Healthy and Happy This Winter: Go Get Your Flu Shot

Posted on November 8, 2016 by Judi

“I’m reaching out to see if you are interested in pulling together a piece on how to prevent the flu,” said the nice account executive S from the team that works on CVS Pharmacy. “Sure,” I replied. “I definitely want to encourage my readers to go get their flu shot. I want them to stay healthy and happy this winter.”*

According to a survey from CVS Health: Over two-thirds of adults in the Northeast (68 percent) get a flu vaccine every year or plan to get one this year, which is significantly higher than those in the South (60 percent), Midwest (56 percent) and West (54 percent). (That’s good. Glad I live in the Northeast!) In fact, nearly two in three (64 percent) employed Americans would still go to work even if they were feeling ill with flu-like symptoms. (That’s not good! See why you need the flu shot?)¹

CVS MinuteClinic; flu shot; flu vaccine; boomer wellness; life after 50

I usually go to CVS Minute Clinic for my flu vaccine.

A Simple and Convenient Way To Get Your Flu Shot
“Have you gotten your flu shot?” I asked my boyfriend L. “Uh huh,” said L. “Did you get your flu shot?” said L. “Uh huh,” I replied. I get the flu shot every year, because according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the best way to prevent the flu is to get the flu vaccine. Continue reading →

Now Is The Time To Get Your Flu Shot

Posted on October 15, 2015 by Judi

“Will you join me for my flu shot?” I asked my boyfriend L. “We can go together this year to get our shots. You’ll hold my hand, since I am really not a fan of the needle.” Plus, CVS asked me to participate in their #StayHealthyWithCVS campaign*, so I asked L to help me with photographic duties.

It’s Time To Get My Flu Shot
I usually go to the CVS MinuteClinic each October to get my flu shot. It’s quick, easy, the nurse practitioner is friendly, and my insurance covers the vaccine. According to the team at CVS: “Getting the flu shot is the most effective defense against the flu. It’s important to get the flu shot each year because the immunity provided by the vaccine declines over time. It takes up to two weeks for your immunity to build up after getting a flu shot so the CDC recommends to get vaccinated as soon as flu vaccine become available.”

I went to CVS MinuteClinic for my flu vaccine.

The CVS nurse practitioner J filled out the paperwork and then it was time for the shot. “Which arm do you want to use?” asked J. We both said “our left arm.” (Note that a flu shot seemed minor compared to the 10 shots of lidocaine my pain doctor injected into my back, neck, and head yesterday for my ongoing occipital neuralgia. My post 50 body is feeling severely prodded this week.) Continue reading →