“As we get older, our bodies don’t regenerate the way they did when we were younger,” says Christa Winterhalter, PharmD, manager of Pharmacy Programs at Highmark. “We can’t fight
off infections as easily or as often, so we need to take preventive actions to remain healthy.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends specific vaccines for people 65 and older. These vaccines help prevent influenza (flu), pneumonia, shingles, tetanus and, most recently, COVID-19. Getting vaccinated is quick, easy, and affordable. Just make sure the administering doctor or clinic is covered by your Medicare plan. Here’s everything you need to know about these five Medicare-covered vaccines:
Booster shots, which give you further protection against the virus, are also available. You
should get your booster at least five months after your primary vaccinations if you received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two months after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised are at a higher risk of illness and death from COVID-19. The CDC recommends that these individuals get vaccinated if they’re age 5 or older, and get a booster if they’re age 12 or older. Because the immune response from the vaccine may differ in immunocompromised people, the CDC also recommends a slightly different dosing schedule for this group. If you’re immunocompromised, make sure to talk to your doctor about when to get vaccinated.
The flu vaccine guards against influenza, a contagious respiratory illness. Adults over the age of 65 are at greater risk for serious complications from the flu, including pneumonia. This population also accounts for more than 70% of flu-related deaths. Unlike the other vaccines listed here, you should get the flu shot every year. The CDC recommends getting the shot in September or October, before flu season starts. Medicare Part B covers all flu vaccines. You may have the option of a regular-dose shot or a specialized shot designed for people over the age of 65. “All the flu vaccines are effective,” Winterhalter says. “The most important thing is that you get one each year.”
The CDC recommends that you get two separate pneumococcal vaccines if you are over the age of 65. Both protect against the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae, a strain of bacteria known to cause pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections. Medicare Part B covers both pneumococcal vaccines. According to Winterhalter, adults age 65 and older should get a dose of Prevnar 13 ® first, followed by a dose of Pneumovax ® one year later. However, you may have received the Prevnar vaccination during your 50s. In that case, you won’t need to get it again. “Pneumonia is not seasonal,” Winterhalter says. “As soon as you hit the age range to get these vaccines, you really should.”
Shingles is a painful, viral infection triggered by the same virus that causes chickenpox. According to the CDC, 1 in 3 people develop shingles in their lifetime — and half of those people are over the age of 60. The shingles vaccine, covered by Medicare Part D, is recommended for adults over the age of 50. In addition to preventing infection, the vaccine also provides strong protection against a type of nerve pain called post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), the most common complication from shingles.
“Shingles is a disease that mostly targets older adults,” Winterhalter says. “Do not procrastinate on getting this vaccine. There is no advantage to waiting.”
Tetanus is a life-threatening disease caused by bacteria contracted from dirt, dust, or
feces. The bacteria is not spread from person to person. Instead, it enters the body through broken skin — often from a burn or stepping on a nail. Most likely, you received your first tetanus vaccine when you were younger. DTaP, DT, and Tdap all offer protection from tetanus, while Tdap provides additional protection against diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough). Medicare Part D covers the booster tetanus (Td) vaccination, which adults should get every 10 years. Since it’s so infrequent, the tetanus vaccination can be easy to forget. But it’s crucial that you stay on track with your doses, especially if you’re managing wounds or other injuries that can make you more susceptible to tetanus. “It’s important to get a tetanus booster every 10 years to lessen the risk of complications if wound management is needed,” Winterhalter says.
Schedule a personal consultation with a Highmark Medicare advisor or call 866-320-8539 , 7 days a week, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. (ET), (TTY users call 711)
This site works best with the latest version of Edge, Firefox, Chrome or Safari. Highmark Choice Company, Highmark Senior Health Company, and Highmark Senior Solutions Company are Medicare Advantage plans with a Medicare contract. HM Health Insurance Company is a PDP plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Highmark Choice Company, Highmark Senior Health Company, Highmark Senior Solutions Company, and HM Health Insurance Company depends on contract renewal. Health benefits or health benefit administration may be provided by or through Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Highmark Choice Company, Highmark Senior Health Company, Highmark Senior Solutions Company, or Highmark Health Insurance Company, all of which are independent licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. All references to “Highmark” in this document are references to the Highmark company that is providing the member’s health benefits or health benefit administration. Y0037_22_3628_M
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All references to “Highmark" in this document are references to the Highmark company that is providing the member's health benefits or health benefit administration and/or to one or more of its affiliated Blue companies. This website is operated by Highmark, Inc. and is not the Health Insurance Marketplace website. It also does not display all Qualified Health Plans available through the Health Insurance Marketplace website. To see all available Qualified Health Plan options, go to the Health Insurance Marketplace website at HealthCare.gov.
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield or Highmark Blue Shield are Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and/or Part D plans with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in these plans depends on contract renewal. ®Blue Cross, Blue Shield and the Cross and Shield symbols are registered service marks of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans. Benefits and/or benefit administration may be provided by or through the following entities, which are independent licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association: Western and Northeastern PA: Highmark Inc. d/b/a Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Highmark Choice Company, Highmark Health Insurance Company, Highmark Coverage Advantage Inc., Highmark Benefits Group Inc., First Priority Health, First Priority Life, Highmark Wholecare or Highmark Senior Health Company. Central and Southeastern PA: Highmark Inc. d/b/a Highmark Blue Shield, Highmark Benefits Group Inc., Highmark Health Insurance Company, Highmark Choice Company, Highmark Wholecare or Highmark Senior Health Company. PA: Your plan may not cover all your health care expenses. Read your plan materials carefully to determine which health care services are covered. For more information, call the number on the back of your member ID card or, if not a member, call 866-459-4418. Delaware: Highmark BCBSD Inc. d/b/a Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield or Highmark BCBSD Health Options Inc. d/b/a Highmark Health Options. West Virginia: Highmark West Virginia Inc. d/b/a Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Highmark Health Insurance Company, or Highmark Senior Solutions Company or Highmark Health Options West Virginia Inc. d/b/a Highmark Health Options. Visit our website to view the Access Plan required by the Health Benefit Plan Network Access and Adequacy Act. You may also request a copy by contacting us at the number on the back of your ID card . Western NY: Highmark Western and Northeastern New York Inc. d/b/a Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. Northeastern NY: Highmark Western and Northeastern New York Inc. d/b/a Highmark Blue Shield.
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