Flu season is upon us, we are hearing of flu outbreaks around the country and that the virus is somewhat more virulent this year! The CDC recommends that adults over the age of 18 receive a COVID-19 booster ALONG WITH their annual flu vaccine. Makes sense, right? A one-stop-shop, a poke in each arm and you are armed to fight off both of these nasty viruses! However, with every bit of good news we have shared over the past 20 months, there is always a bit of bad news to taint our happiness!

At a recent virtual meeting of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), a discussion ensued regarding the mix-up of flu and COVID vaccines. They identified 20 reports in the past month of this kind of mistake. A little unsettling right? That said, I for one, made an appointment at a local pharmacy for both vaccines, the COVID-19 booster, and the influenza vaccine anyway.

Upon arriving at the pharmacy, it seemed like a very long wait considering I had an appointment however, I observed the pharmacy tech reviewing the information on the computer, comparing the syringes and vials, looking at the computer again, multiple times. Each syringe was labeled and brought out in separate bins along with the required paperwork. Bottom line, mistakes can happen however, I felt comfortable and confident that the proper vaccines were being administered, in the correct dosage, and that I was doing my part in preventing the spread of infection. Stay well, stay informed, and stay tuned!