Detroit Medicare & ACA Section 2020

Ask the expert: Vaccinations with Dr. Duane DiFranco

Dr. Duane DiFranco
for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Dr. Duane DiFranco is vice president of Medicare Stars and Clinical Management at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

Keeping your vaccinations up to date is important, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Routine immunizations can avert the flu, shingles, pneumonia and several other ailments. While some people worry that vaccines might make them feel ill, there is no evidence they do anything other than prevent disease. Preventing a lengthy or lasting illness is worth the possibility of a temporarily sore arm.

Your doctor can advise you of immunizations that will benefit you. The table below lists common vaccinations recommended for adults 65 and older. For Medicare Advantage plans, most vaccines are covered under your pharmacy benefit; your lowest out-of-pocket expense will be to have them administered at your pharmacy. Retail pharmacies usually don’t require an appointment, and you can walk right in to get your shot by a trained pharmacist in a private room.  

Recommended immunizations for adults

  • Vaccine: Flu
    • Frequency: 1 dose every year
    • Location: Doctor’s office or pharmacy*
  • Vaccine: Pneumonia 
    • Frequency: For ages 65 and older, one dose of Pneumovax®23; Prevnar 13® might also be required upon doctor’s recommendation
    • Location: Doctor’s office or pharmacy*
  • Vaccine: Tetanus
    • Frequency: Once every 10 years
    • Location: Pharmacy
  • Vaccine: Zoster (Shingles)
    • Frequency: Two doses of Shingrix®
    • Location: Pharmacy
  • Vaccine: Hepatitis A
    • Frequency: If high risk
    • Location: Pharmacy
  • Vaccine: Hepatitis B
    • Frequency: If high risk
    • Location: Doctor’s office
  • Vaccine: Yellow fever, typhoid
    • Frequency: If traveling to high-risk regions
    • Location: Pharmacy

*The vaccine is covered under Part B, however, most Medicare plans provide coverage if administered at a pharmacy.

You can get more information by calling the customer service number on the back of your health care coverage member ID card or logging in to your online health care coverage account.

ABOUT THE EXPERT

Dr. Duane DiFranco is vice president of Medicare Stars and Clinical Management at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.