It’s Time to Roll Up Your Sleeves

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the best way to prevent serious illness from the seasonal flu and COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. This year, the CDC is also recommending that adults 60 years of age and older get an RSV vaccination.

Fight the Flu
The CDC recommends everyone 6 months of age and older get a flu vaccine. Because it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies that protect against flu to develop in the body, the CDC recommends getting a flu vaccine by the end of October. Getting vaccinated later, however, can still be beneficial.

Combat COVID-19
The CDC recommends everyone 6 months of age and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to be up to date. The COVID-19 vaccine is proven to protect people from getting seriously ill, becoming hospitalized and dying. While you may have some protection if you’ve had COVID-19, the level and length of protection varies and decreases over time.

Prevent RSV
Respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-uhl) virus, or RSV, is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious. Infants and older adults are more likely to develop severe RSV and need hospitalization. Vaccines are available to protect older adults from severe RSV. Effective September 1, 2023, the RRD National Medical options will cover RSV vaccinations for adults 60 and older. 

It’s Easy to Get Vaccinated
You can get your vaccinations in a number of ways:

1. At an in-network convenience care clinic, typically located in a retail store. No appointment is needed.
2. At an in-network retail pharmacy such as CVS, Walgreens and Walmart. (Take your prescription ID card to show.)
3. At your doctor’s office or other in-network provider. Check your medical vendor’s website or call the number on your medical ID card to find a network provider.

Show your medical ID card if you get vaccinated at a doctor’s office or clinic; show your prescription drug card if you get vaccinated at a pharmacy. Although you might need to pay out of pocket when you receive the vaccine, you will be reimbursed 100% if you are covered under an RRD National Medical option and you use an in-network provider. (You must be 60 or older to be 100% reimbursed for the RSV vaccine.) Simply submit the claim to your medical or prescription drug vendor for reimbursement.

Good to Know: Other Preventive Vaccines Are Also Covered
If you’re enrolled in a National Medical option, other recommended preventive vaccines are covered at in-network providers and pharmacies, including:

• Hepatitis A and B
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
• Polio
• Meningitis
• Shingles
• Tetanus
• And more!

Contact your medical vendor for coverage details. To learn more about immunization recommendations, visit cdc.gov/vaccines/.