Medicare Drug Plans And The Shingles Vaccine
Unlike Medicare parts A and B, which are government insurance plans that cover hospital insurance and outpatient medical insurance, respectively, Medicare drug plans are private insurance policies developed by providers that have contracts with the federal government. You might purchase such a policy if you have Original Medicare or a Medigap plan and need prescription drug coverage.
What Vaccines Are Covered By Medicare
The following chart shows how some common vaccines are covered by Medicare.
| Vaccine | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coronavirus 2019 | – Part B | You pay nothing for the vaccine, whether you receive 2 shots or only a single dose. |
| Influenza | -Part B | You pay nothing for 1 flu shot per flu season if your doctor accepts Medicare assignment. |
| Pneumococcal | -Part B | You pay nothing for 2 shots if your doctor accepts Medicare assignment. |
| Hepatitis B | -Part B | You pay nothing if youre at medium or high risk for Hepatitis B and your doctor accepts Medicare assignment. |
| -Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage-Part D | Coverage rules and costs vary by plan. | |
| Tetanus | -Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage-Part D | Coverage rules and costs vary by plan. |
These are only a few of the most commonly recommended vaccines. Check with your doctor or health care provider if you have questions about a specific immunization or vaccine that is not listed here.
Medicare Part B also typically covers vaccines after youve potentially been exposed to a dangerous disease or virus. For example, your rabies shot may be covered by Medicare Part B if you are bitten by a dog.
Side Effects In Children
Side effects in toddlers, children, and teenagers were very similar to side effects that occurred in adults. However, children also experienced fever higher than 100°F and belly pain.
Children younger than age 5 years with a history of wheezing or asthma may be at an increased risk of developing wheezing after receiving FluMist. So if your child has had asthma or wheezing that keeps returning, their doctor may recommend that they receive a flu shot instead of FluMist. Getting a flu shot shouldnt raise their risk of wheezing.
If your child does receive the FluMist vaccine, their doctor may monitor them afterward to treat any wheezing that occurs.
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Why Is It More Important Than Ever To Get A Flu Shot This Year
Couple of reasons, and you guessed it, theyve all gotta do with COVID-19: For one, we do not yet know if co-infection, with flu and COVID-19, is something we should be concerned about or how severe that could be, says Dr. Pasha. Its also tricky because as Dr. Pasha says, the symptoms of influenza and COVID-19 are essentially indistinguishable. He adds, If we can prevent flu infections, we can prevent people from having to seek testing and medical care for potential COVID-19. This will help with the strain on the health care system that may be seen with a potential uptick in COVID-19 cases this fall and winter.
Is Tamiflu Safe For Older People To Take
Yes, its safe. In clinical studies, Tamiflu was given to 1,994 people who were ages 65 years and older, including 1,048 people ages 75 years and older. There were no differences in the safety or effectiveness of Tamiflu in these age groups compared to the safety or effectiveness seen in younger people taking the drug.
If youre over the age of 65 years, and youre interested in taking Tamiflu, talk with your doctor to see if its an option for you.
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Is It Ok To Get Flumist If I Have Diabetes
You may not be able to get FluMist if you have diabetes, including both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. This is because diabetes can weaken your immune system.
FluMist is a live vaccine, which means it has live flu viruses in it that have been weakened so that they shouldnt infect you with the flu. If your immune system is healthy, it should be able to fight the flu viruses in the vaccine. But if your immune system is weakened due to diabetes, you may not be able to fight the viruses in the vaccine.
If you have diabetes, your doctor will probably recommend that you get a flu shot instead of FluMist. Flu shots arent live vaccines. For details, see Live vs. inactive vaccine in the FluMist vs. flu shot section above.
If you have questions about which flu vaccine is right for you, talk with your doctor.
What Are The Different Types Of Flu Shots
The CDC recommends any licensed, age-appropriate flu vaccine without preference for one over the otherincluding injectable vaccines and nasal spray vaccines. However, the CDC recommends that adults 65 years and older get an injectable vaccine, and high-dose formulations are available for this age group.
Its important to note that there are two types of flu vaccinations: trivalent and quadrivalent. Trivalent vaccines protect against 2 strains of influenza A and 1 strain of influenza B, whereas quadrivalent vaccines protect against 2 strains of influenza A and 2 strains of influenza B. All of the flu vaccines in the 2021-2022 season are of the quadrivalent variety, and are safe for individuals over 6 months of age with a few exceptions.
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Flu Shot Effectiveness Rate & Time Before It Takes Effect
I have often wondered how long it takes for a flu shot to take effect. According to the CDC, it generally takes about 2 weeks for the flu vaccine to protect you from catching the flu virus.
The flu shot effectiveness rate is widely disputed. There are many variables â age, severity of a virus in a given season, new strains, unreported cases, and even effectiveness by manufacturer â that make it hard to nail down an effectiveness rate. Iâve seen effectiveness rates reported as anywhere from 40% to 90%.
Regardless of effectiveness rate, there is no risk in getting the flu from a flu shot, so sign me up. It is recommended that everyone 6 months of age and older get a flu shot. And it is recommended that children between 6 months and 8 years of age get 2 shots per season.
Does Medicare Cover Pneumonia Shots
Medicare Part B typically covers pneumonia shots, which help prevent certain types of pneumonia.
Medicare Advantage plans also cover pneumonia shots. Many Medicare Advantage plans also cover prescription drugs and other benefits that Medicare Part A and Part B don’t cover.
Medicare typically covers 100 percent of the Medicare-approved amount of your pneumococcal vaccine .
Before getting your pneumonia shot, verify with your doctor that it is 100 percent covered by Medicare.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends PPSV23 pneumococcal vaccinations for all adults who are 65 years of age or older.
There are currently two pneumococcal vaccines that have been approved for use for the prevention of pneumonia. Both vaccines are covered under Medicare Part B however, the order in which you receive them matters. Talk to your health care provider to learn more.
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How Can I Get A Flu Shot If I Dont Have Insurance
Many city or county health departments offer no- or low-cost flu vaccines, says Dr. Iroku. Look into your local clinics, local health department, and call up some offices/pharmacies and ask. Health officials want you to get a flu shot, and many offices will even give you the shot heavily discounted to ensure its available for those without insurance.
Theres also no shame in googling flu shot coupons . GoodRx, a coupon site for prescription meds, even has this handy chart of estimated costs of flu shots at popular pharmacies if you dont have insurance. It has one column for the price with its coupons and one without.
Even without its coupons, the cost is VERY doable, given how important it is to get a flu shot this year. Dont be scared or let the cost or imagined hassle of getting an insurance-less flu shot stand in the way of getting one: Prices range from $20 to around $40 for a flu shot.
How Long Do Side Effects From Flumist Last
It wasnt reported in clinical trials how long side effects from FluMist last. However, most side effects were reported within 10 to 14 days after FluMist vaccination.
If you receive FluMist and experience side effects that seem to last and dont improve, talk with your doctor. They can see if another condition may be causing your symptoms.
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How Long Does It Take To Work
FluMist takes about 2 weeks to work. This is why its important to get FluMist before the start of the flu season. Your body needs enough time to develop antibodies against the flu viruses.
In some cases, your child may need two doses of FluMist. . It typically takes
The Food and Drug Administration approves vaccines such as FluMist to treat certain conditions.
Will I Need To Use This Drug Long Term
Tamiflu is meant to be used short term for both treating and preventing the flu.
Most people will take Tamiflu for 5 days when its used to treat the flu. When its used to prevent the flu, Tamiflu is typically taken for 10 days. But it can be used for up to 6 weeks for flu prevention if theres a community outbreak.
Tamiflu isnt meant to be used long term. Your doctor will recommend how long you should take this drug.
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Tamiflu.
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Who Should Get A Flu Shot
The CDC recommends an annual flu shot for most people 6 months of age and older, including pregnant people. If youve ever had a severe allergic reaction to the flu shot, you have an egg allergy, a history of Guillain-Barré Syndrome, or you are feeling unwell, talk to your provider before you get a flu shot.
Walmart Sam’s Club Announce Flu Shot Offering
BENTONVILLE, Ark. Walmart and Sam’s Club are offering flu shot clinics to customers through their partnership with Mollen Immunization Clinics.
The clinics, located in more than 4,100 select stores and clubs nationwide, will offer flu shots for $25. Medicare Part B or private health plans may cover part or all of the cost of the immunization, Walmart and Sam’s Club noted. Additionally, Mollen is expanding its immunization menu to also include vaccines for pneumonia, Tdap , MMR , meningitis, HPV and hepatitis A and B. The decision was based on changing state regulations that require mandates around these immunizations for both children and adults.
“Providing flu shots in our stores is another way Walmart helps deliver access to affordable healthcare solutions to our customers,” Walmart health-and-wellness division president John Agwunobi said.
Customers can visit Walmart.com/flushots or SamsClub.com/healthyliving to find specific dates, times and locations for the flu vaccination clinics.
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Financial And Insurance Assistance
If you need financial support to pay for Tamiflu, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available.
Genentech, the manufacturer of Tamiflu, may offer assistance to help lower the cost of Tamiflu. For more information and to find out if youre eligible for support, call 877-436-3683 or visit the program website.
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Does The Flu Shot Last Only A Few Months
Unfortunately, yes, says Monjur Alam, MD, a primary care physician at UC San Diego. The virus changes every year, so you need to get a new shot every year. The immune response from the vaccine also typically lasts about six to eight months and then weans off, Dr. Alam says. So basically, one flu shot should cover you for that flu season.
Antivirals: What To Do When You Already Have The Flu
When you come down with the flu, antiviral medicine can shorten its duration. The FDA has approved six influenza antiviral drugs in the U.S. But theyre all in somewhat short supply, so you might not be given them if youre not a child or elderly. This is why we get our flu shots, people!
The antiviral you probably already know goes by the brand name of Tamiflu, which you can get over the counter with relative ease even if youre not young or elderly. This drug, along with two others that work in the same manner , block an enzyme the virus needs to replicate. They can shave up to a day off your illness, but they need multiple doses to keep the drug working. Tamiflu, for instance, requires patients to take it twice a day for five days.
The newest antiviral, Baloxavir marboxil , is a single-dose antiviral drug approved in 2019 by the FDA. Baloxavir is for people with basic flu who are 5 years or older and have had symptoms for less than 48 hours. In a phase 2 trial published by The New England Journal of Medicine, it shaved off upwards of 28 hours of flu symptoms . This antiviral stands out in that its the only one that gets to the root of replication, messing with the virus RNA to stop it from reproducing. Also, its one of the only ones to come in a single dose, so you can pop it once and forget about it.
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Tamiflu For Other Conditions
In addition to the uses listed above, you may wonder if Tamiflu is used for certain other conditions. Here we describe conditions that Tamiflu isnt approved to treat.
Tamiflu for parainfluenza
Tamiflu isnt approved to treat parainfluenza viruses, and it shouldnt be given for this use. Human parainfluenza viruses cause symptoms similar to those caused by influenza virus. However, HPIVs belong to a different class of viruses than influenza virus does. For this reason, Tamiflu wont be effective for treating HPIVs.
If you have flu-like symptoms, you should make an appointment to see your doctor. They can recommend the best treatment option for your condition.
Tamiflu for colds
Tamiflu isnt approved to treat the common cold, and it shouldnt be used for this condition. The common cold can be caused by many different viruses that infect your lungs and nasal passages. The most common virus that causes the cold is called rhinovirus. However, Tamiflu doesnt work to treat rhinovirus.
While the common cold and influenza cause similar symptoms, flu symptoms are generally worse than cold symptoms. If you have cold or flu symptoms, make an appointment to see your doctor. They can recommend the best treatment option for your condition.
How Much Does A Flu Shot Cost Without Insurance
According to GoodRx, flu shots typically range in price between $0 and $50 without health insurance, but its possible flu shots cost more in some regions. The price of a flu shot is often based on factors including provider rates, the providers geographical location, and the type of vaccine given.
According to the CDC, eight different flu vaccines are available:
- Flu Vaccination by Jet Injector
- Adjuvanted Vaccine
- Recombinant Flu Vaccines
Your doctor or the flu shot provider may recommend the best vaccine to take based on your age and other factors, including availability and cost.
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Flu Vaccine Ingredients: The Strains
Every year, vaccine developers take virus samples from labs across the world and mix and match them. This years vaccine relies on four viruses this is called a quadrivalent vaccine. The four viruses in the vaccine are somewhat different for the three different types of flu vaccines, which are egg-based , recombinant, and egg-free.
Those viruses are
Apdm09
First, lets break down the terminology: A refers to the type of influenza that infects birds, humans, pigs, horses, seals, and dogs H#N# refers to the different proteins found in the outer shell of the virus pdm is short for pandemic and 09 is the year of said pandemic .
This years Apdm09 component is different for flu vaccines that are egg-based compared to those that are cell-based and recombinant-based. For egg-based vaccines, the component remained the same as last year: an A/Victoria/2570/2019pdm09-like virus. That refers to a flu strain akin to the one seen in the 2009 pandemic that was created in 2019 in a lab in Victoria.
For cell-based and recombinant vaccines, the component remained the same as last year: an A/Wisconsin/588/2019 pdm09-like virus.
The second component is a variant of the 2009 H1N1 swine flu. H3N2 was first found in pigs in 2010, then in humans in 2011. The biggest human outbreak was in 2012 with some 309 reported cases.
Influenza B