You Can Help Keep Our Members Safe During the Flu Season

November 15, 2022

Flu season is here, and it is important that everyone take steps to avoid getting the flu. Many of our members are considered high risk during flu season and it is very important that they are reminded to get their flu shot.

Here’s How You Can Help:

If your client has not received their annual flu shot and it has been recommended by their health care provider that they get one:

Encourage your client to get their flu shot as soon as possible.
Work with your client to coordinate a visit to their Primary Care Provider (PCP), pharmacy, or other approved flu vaccination site to receive their annual flu shot.

Clients may have questions about the flu shot. Below are some quick tips and things to know:

Members can visit their primary care provider (PCP), a local pharmacy or local health department to receive their flu shot. For help finding a flu shot location for your client, visit h ttps://www.vaccines.gov/.
When you get vaccinated, you reduce your risk of getting sick with the flu and possibly being hospitalized or dying from the flu.
Flu vaccination is especially important for people 65 years and older because they are at a higher risk of developing serious flu complications, including being hospitalized or dying from flu.
Flu vaccines and COVID-19 vaccines/booster shots can be given at the same time.
Flu shots are provided to members at little to no cost.
Wearing a mask, hand washing, and physical distancing can help protect you and others from respiratory viruses, like flu and the virus that causes COVID-19. However, the best way to reduce your risk of flu illness and its potentially serious complications is for everyone 6 months and older to get a flu vaccine each year.
People who have had a severe allergic reaction to a dose of influenza vaccine should not get that flu vaccine again and might not be able to receive other influenza vaccines. These people should talk to their health care provider about what they should do during flu season to stay safe.

If your client has already received their annual flu shot:

Encourage them to write down the date it was administered. Members should store the date the flu shot was given in a safe and highly visible place. Our Nurses, Care Managers and other members of the VNS Health Care Team may ask your client for the date of the flu shot. It will be helpful to have the information handy and easily accessible.

VNS Health thanks you for your commitment to keeping our members safe and healthy!

Created by VNS Health Health Plans Quality Department