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Protect your health: Get a flu shot.

Influenza (“the flu”) is a virus that infects the respiratory system (nose, throat, windpipe, and lungs) and can lead to serious complications like pneumonia.

The best way to prevent getting and giving the flu is to get the flu shot (vaccine) every year.

Don’t Wait - Vaccinate!

Make a flu shot appointment now to keep you and your family protected during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. If you become infected with COVID-19, you’ll have to wait until you’re well to get your flu shot.

The flu vaccine is covered by your health plan and there isn’t any out of pocket cost.

There are several ways to get a flu shot:

• Local pharmacies may offer flu shots. Search MolinaHealthcare.com/ProviderSearch for pharmacies near you. Call ahead or visit the pharmacy’s website to check if that location offers a flu shot. You may need to schedule a visit before you go.
• Your primary care provider can give you a flu shot. The phone number is on the back of your ID card.
• You can visit vaccinefinder.org to find a place nearby to get your flu vaccine.

If you have questions about your health coverage, call Member Services (855) 665-4623, TTY: 711, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., local time.

Why Get a Flu Shot?

Getting a flu shot is more important than ever to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community from the flu. Like wearing a mask, it’s a safe and easy action we can take to keep ourselves and others healthy during the pandemic. It will also help save limited medical resources for COVID-19 patients.

How Does the Flu Shot Help Protect Communities Against COVID-19?

We may not have a vaccine for COVID-19 yet, but we do have a flu vaccine that is effective and safe. The flu and COVID-19 viruses share many symptoms. Preventing the flu means fewer people will need medical care and testing.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the flu causes hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and 12,000 to 61,000 deaths each season. A bad flu season combined with COVID-19 puts our front-line workers at higher risk for illness.

Essential workers, including nurses and doctors, are doing their part to keep us healthy. Now it’s time for us to do our part by rolling up our sleeves and getting vaccinated.

You can find more 2020-2021 flu prevention information from the CDC here.

Is Getting a Flu Shot Safe?

We understand you may feel a little uneasy about going to the doctor’s office, pharmacy, or flu clinic this year. Medical providers are taking every precaution to keep you safe, wherever you plan to get vaccinated.

Hospitals, clinics, and other health care settings have taken safety measures to keep you safe when getting vaccinated, such as:

• Separate appointment times for sick and healthy patients
• Mask requirements
• Additional disinfecting between appointments
• Physical distancing in waiting areas
• Drive-through services, so you can get care from your car
• And many other measures to make sure patients stay safe

Who Should Get a Flu Shot?

According to the CDC, everyone 6 months and older should get a flu shot, especially our most vulnerable community members.

Healthy children and adults can get very sick from the flu, and it can lower the body’s defenses to other infections, including COVID-19. A flu shot lowers the chances that children and adults will end up in the hospital when they catch the flu.

Getting your flu vaccine will protect your loved ones, including those who are more vulnerable to serious flu illness and COVID-19. People who may be more vulnerable to the flu include:

• People 65 years of age and older
• People with underlying medical conditions, such as lung and heart disease, neurologic disorders, weakened immune systems, and diabetes
• African Americans, Latino, and Native populations, who are more often affected by chronic medical conditions
• Caregivers and residents in long-term care facilities
• Essential workers who frequently interact with each other and the public

Myths and Truths About the Flu Vaccine