Vaccine information
Getting vaccinated is one of the best ways to protect your health. Vaccines provide protection against illnesses and the uncomfortable symptoms and complications that can come with them.
By getting vaccinated, you protect yourself and avoid spreading a preventable illness to other people.
Routine vaccines
Some vaccines provide protection that can fade over time, and you might need additional doses (boosters) to maintain protection. For example, the virus that causes the flu changes quickly. Every year, new flu shots are released to stay current with the changes.
Make sure you’re up to date on these routine vaccines:
- Free flu (influenza) vaccine.
- COVID-19 vaccine.
- Tdap vaccine (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) or Td vaccine (tetanus, diphtheria).
Other important vaccines
Depending on your age, job, travel plans, and health, you may need additional vaccines to keep you protected. For example, it may be appropriate for you to receive a Hepatitis B, MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella), RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), or shingles vaccine.
Your Advanced Primary Care doctor can recommend which vaccines are right for you.
Get a call when it’s time to get a shot
You can get the shots you need at any Carelon Health Care Center, pharmacy, or doctor’s office. Please fill out the Vaccine Appointment and Alert form if you’d like to:
- Make an appointment to get a vaccine at a care center.
- Receive an alert when it’s time to get a vaccine.
- Make an appointment and receive vaccine alerts.
A care team member will call you to follow up.
Frequently asked questions
You can get the shots you need at a Carelon Health Care Center, pharmacy, or doctor’s office.
Appointments are highly recommended to ensure the vaccine you need is available, though an appointment is not required. We’ll do our best to assist you if you walk in for a vaccine.
Vaccines go through rigorous testing. They must be approved or licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are evaluated by an independent group of experts. Teams of doctors, scientists, and public health experts closely monitor the effects of vaccines to ensure they are held to the highest safety standards.
Side effects are usually mild — such as soreness around the injection site or a low-grade fever. Most side effects go away within a few days. Your doctor, nurse, or other care team member will give you information about what to expect for the specific vaccine you receive.
Some people should not get certain vaccines or should wait to get them due to age or a health condition. If you’re concerned about getting a particular vaccine due to your age or a health condition, talk to your doctor first.
For most people who only need one flu shot for the season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends getting the vaccine in September or October. For detailed information about when certain groups of people should get the flu shot, please refer to the CDC’s Who Needs a Flu Vaccine .
People who don’t get vaccinated are at a higher risk for getting a preventable illness. Symptoms could be severe and even life threatening.
For the latest information, please refer to the Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines webpage from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
