National pharmacy groups urge patients to talk with their pharmacist about available vaccines.
For decades, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians have served as your trusted providers of vaccine care. New vaccine recommendations may seem confusing, but your pharmacist is ready to help.
Pharmacists are trained health care providers who can explain which vaccines are recommended for you based on your age and other health needs. Pharmacists use their clinical training and the latest scientific information to guide you and your family. Pharmacists can give vaccines to both children and adults. Some states have rules that limit which vaccines and at what ages.
Community pharmacies remain accessible and reliable places to get vaccines and other health services. During this respiratory season, pharmacists and pharmacy team members have administered:
- 90% of adult COVID-19 vaccines, over 18 million doses,
- 64% of adult influenza (flu) vaccines, over 33 million doses,
- 95% of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines for adults aged 50 years and older, over 16 million doses.
There is still time to protect yourself and your loved ones against respiratory viruses.
- Flu season is severe this year: The CDC reports 19 million illnesses, 250,000 hospitalizations, and 10,000 deaths from the flu so far. There have been 44 child deaths.
- Respiratory viruses cause serious health problems: They can raise the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Getting vaccinated can reduce your risk of these serious health problems.
- COVID-19, flu, and RSV affect daily life: Many people miss work or school because of respiratory viruses. This affects families and communities across the country.
- This year’s flu shots still protect: Even late in the season, vaccines still provide protection. They can make symptoms milder and lower the chance of hospitalization or death from the flu. People 65 and older should get a high-dose, recombinant, or adjuvanted flu shot because they are more likely to get very sick from the flu.
Vaccines are still available at no cost to patients.
Insurance plans continue to cover vaccines given by pharmacists and other vaccine providers. In most cases, this means your flu shot and other needed vaccines will be available at no out-of-pocket cost.
Talk with your pharmacist to learn which vaccines may be beneficial for you and your family. Pharmacists are ready and willing to help you understand your options and help you stay protected.
Find a pharmacy near you that offers vaccines here.
Sincerely, your pharmacists:
- American Pharmacists Association (APhA)
- Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP)
- American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP)
- American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP)
- American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP)
- American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP)
- American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
- CPESN USA
- Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA)
- National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP)
- National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA)
- National Pharmaceutical Association (NPhA)
- Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (SIDP)