Encourage residents and staff to get a flu shot and updated COVID-19 vaccine

• You can give flu shots and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time.
• The updated COVID-19 vaccines are designed to protect against the Omicron strain, which makes up almost all COVID-19 cases in the US.
• Public health surveillance shows Virginia may experience a challenging flu and respiratory disease season this fall and winter.

New for this flu season: Patients 65 and older should get a preferred vaccine if available. Preferred vaccines are potentially more effective than standard dose flu vaccines. There are three recommended vaccines:

1. Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent vaccine
2. Flublok Quadrivalent recombinant flu vaccine
3. Fluad Quadrivalent adjuvanted flu vaccine

If one of these recommended vaccines isn’t available, give your patients a standard-dose flu vaccine instead.

More details:

• Medicare Part B covers the seasonal flu shot and additional flu shots if medically necessary. Your patients pay nothing if you accept assignment.
• There’s no applicable copayment, coinsurance, or deductible for COVID-19 vaccines.
• You can now check eligibility (PDF)for the flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine. If you need help, contact your eligibility service provider.

Quick links:

• VDH Influenza Surveillance webpage
• CMS Flu Shot webpage
• COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Toolkit
• CDC Influenza (Flu) webpage
• Vaccines.gov
• Medicare Part D Vaccines (PDF) fact sheet
• Flu shots and COVID-19 vaccine: Get information for your Medicare patients