Immunization Health

Let’s talk about Vaccines

Vaccination is one of the most convenient and safest preventive care measures available to both children and adults. It’s important to keep your vaccinations up to date because as we age, immunity from childhood vaccinations wears off over time. You are also at risk for different diseases as a child versus as an adult.

The CDC has recommendations based on your age, health conditions, job, lifestyle and or travel habits. Influenza (flu), Covid-19, Td or Tdap, or other vaccines such as shingles, RSV and pneumonia may be recommended as well.

To learn more, talk to your health care provider about which vaccines are right for you. You can also visit the CDC’s website for more information.
Recommended Vaccines for Children
Recommended Vaccines for Adults

Flu season is almost here. The CDC recommends everyone 6 months of age and older, with rare exceptions, receive an updated 2024-2025 flu vaccine to reduce the risk of influenza and its potentially serious complications this fall and winter. Flu vaccination has important benefits. It can reduce flu illnesses, visits to doctor’s offices, and missed work and school due to flu, as well as make symptoms less severe and reduce flu-related hospitalizations and deaths. Plan to get your vaccine as soon as it’s available!

Flu Shot Myth #1: The flu vaccine can give me the flu.

False. If you receive the injected flu vaccine, it contains inactivated virus that cannot give you influenza. Feeling achy or feverish is a normal reaction by your immune system to the vaccine. If you experience symptoms, they should only last a day or two.

Flu Shot Myth #2: I still got the flu after receiving the vaccine, so it doesn’t work.

False. If you were exposed to the flu shortly before getting vaccinated or during the 2-week period it takes to develop antibodies after, you may become ill with the flu before the protection from the vaccine takes effect. You could also be exposed to a strain of the flu virus different than the ones in the vaccine. This year’s vaccine can help protect you from 3 different flu strains. Even if you do still get the flu, your symptoms should be less severe and sick time shorter than if you had not been vaccinated at all.

The team at Express Scripts by Evernorth are dedicated to helping you achieve your overall health and wellness goals with the tools and resources we have available. Call (800) 846-4008 to speak with one of our pharmacists.

Adapted from Express Scripts Wellness Wire.