Everyone 6 months and older should receive a yearly flu vaccine, with rare exceptions. The flu vaccine causes your body to make antibodies that fight the flu, decreasing your risk of becoming sick with the flu. Since the viruses in the available flu vaccines are inactivated or altered, they cannot cause the flu. The flu vaccine is recommended annually, as immunity decreases over time.  The vaccine is also updated each year to protect against the flu strains that are expected to be most prevalent in the coming season. It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to be effective, so it is important to get the vaccine before the flu starts spreading in your area.

There are several different types of flu vaccines available. 

Rite Aid offers the following flu vaccines:

Trivalent flu vaccine - this vaccine protects against two Influenza A strains and one Influenza B strain. 

For those 65 years of age and older (and those 18-64 who received a solid organ transplant) there are two types of flu vaccines that are designed to provide a greater immune response.

• High-dose flu vaccine - this vaccine contains four times more antigen than standard dose flu vaccines.
• Adjuvanted flu vaccine - this vaccine contains an ingredient that provides a stronger immune response. 

Ask your Rite Aid pharmacist which vaccine is right for you.

Common side effects of the flu vaccine include:  soreness, redness or swelling at the injection site, fever, headache, nausea, and muscle aches. 

Less common side effects may include: fainting, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and allergic reactions (e.g., Egg allergy). 

Egg Allergy: As of the 2023-2024 flu season, individuals with an egg allergy can now receive any vaccine suitable for their age and health status (egg-based or non-egg-based) without additional safety measures. All vaccines should be administered in settings where allergic reactions can be promptly recognized and treated.

Yes. Those who have been vaccinated may still get the flu.

This can be caused by one or more of the following:

Exposure to the virus before vaccination

Exposure to the virus during the two-week period after receiving vaccination, or before immunity develops.

Exposure to flu strains that may be circulating and are not included in the flu vaccine.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviews the flu data and determines the combination of viruses most likely to prevent the flu each year. Despite the amount of research that goes into the flu vaccine composition, the virus is constantly changing. Therefore, the vaccine may not be a perfect match to the current circulating virus. The good news is, those who have been vaccinated generally have a milder case of flu than those who are unvaccinated.

Common flu symptoms may include fever or chills, muscle aches, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache and fatigue/tiredness. 

If you get flu symptoms and are at higher risk of serious flu complications, contact your healthcare provider.  Prescription influenza antiviral drugs may be a treatment option.  They can help lessen fever and flu symptoms, shorten the length of flu illness, and reduce the risk of complications. It is best if they are taken within 2 days of the start of flu symptoms. The four FDA approved prescription medications for the treatment of flu are oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu®), zanamivir (Relenza®), peramivir (Rapivab®), and baloxavir marboxil (Xofluza®).

OTC medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen can be used to treat fever, headache, body aches, and sore throat. Products containing dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant) and/or guaifenesin (an expectorant) are helpful for cough. Runny/stuffy nose symptoms can be treated with an antihistamine and/or decongestant. 

Be sure to always read the product label to understand the active ingredient(s), uses, warnings, doses, and directions. For questions and help with product selection, talk to your Rite Aid pharmacist or other healthcare professional.

Get plenty of rest, drink fluids and avoid contact with others as much as possible.  If symptoms continue to worsen, contact your healthcare provider.

To use a $5 Off $25 Coupon, you must be a Rite Aid Rewards member, receive a flu shot at a Rite Aid location, and use the coupon by its expiration date.  Present coupon with your Rite Aid Rewards number at check out to receive $5 off your in-store purchase. Not valid where coupon is prohibited by law, including in NY and NJ. Coupons are valid one time only on a complete purchase and are subject to certain restrictions. Coupons are not valid on prescriptions, prescription co-pays, tobacco, alcohol, dairy products, gift cards, online purchases, lottery tickets, licenses, money orders, money transfers, prepaid cards, stamps other mail services and items prohibited by law. Coupons may not be combined with any other offer. Limit one coupon per transaction, per household.