Flu Shots: Help Address Disparities

The CDC recommends annual flu shots for everyone 6 months and older, including people with chronic medical conditions who have a higher risk of serious complications (see CDC). Vaccination rates for Medicare Fee-for-Service patients vary by race, ethnicity, and geographic area (see data snapshot). National Influenza Vaccination Week is a perfect time to find out how you can help address these challenges, and encourage your patients to get flu shots.

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 3 recommended vaccines:

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

If 1 of these recommended vaccines isn’t available, give your patients a standard-dose flu vaccine instead.

You can give flu shots and COVID-19 vaccines at the same visit. Medicare Part B covers:

• Flu shot: seasonal flu shot and additional flu shots if medically necessary. Your patients pay nothing if you accept assignment.
• COVID-19 vaccine: no applicable copayment, coinsurance, or deductible.

You can now check eligibility for the flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine. If you need help, contact your eligibility service provider.

More Information:

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