If you got your flu shot at CVS

Jaclyn278

Is it Thermosol free? Or is it just preservative free (or is that the same thing)?

I wanted to go there tomorrow but I want to be sure and I'm a little paranoid. Thanks!

ABC-123

I have heard that you can ask for the Thermisol free vax, but I don't know if all drug stores carry them.  Maybe call ahead and ask?  I have been thinking about going to Walgreen's for mine b/c it is too hard to get into the doc's office without taking off a ton of work.

Good luck. 

dusk42

Someone on here went to a drugstore and they didn't have a thimerosal-free version, but they called around to the other area pharmacies and found one for her.  I would just call ahead of time and check - ask for the flu shot options by brand name and how it is stored (i.e., if they tell you that they have Fluzone, ask if they have the single-dose syringes or single-dose vials).  You can use this chart to double check which brands have a thimerosal-free option, and remember FluMist is a live virus and shouldn't be an option for you.

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/acip/dosage.htm 

dusk42

Jaclyn278:

Is it Thermosol free? Or is it just preservative free (or is that the same thing)?

Thimerosal-free = thimerosal was not used in the production of the vaccine at all - e.g., Fluzone in the single-dose syringes

Preservative-free = thimerosal was used in the early stages of production, but was diluted down to a much lower level than the "regular" version, e.g., Fluvirin in the single-dose syringes

The chart I posted is fairly clear about which ones are which.