Dr. Mark Steffen: What to know about vaccines this fall

By Mark Steffen, MD, MPH

Chief Medical Officer

The kids are back in school, the leaves are turning, and the temperature is dropping. These are all signs that fall is here, and it’s time for myself and my family to get our annual flu shots and updated COVID-19 vaccines.

I prefer to get myself and my kids in for our vaccines in early fall. As a parent, I know how busy this time of year can be with school activities and sports. I have found the longer I wait to schedule those appointments, the easier it is to get too busy and forget to do them altogether. I do my best to avoid getting into that situation because no vaccines means no protection.

Each year, we see an uptick in respiratory illnesses during the colder months. Receiving vaccinations for common illnesses in early fall can help ensure your immune system is primed before peak season hits, giving you and your family the best chance to avoid serious illness.

Lately there has been a lot of attention and news coverage around vaccines. It can be challenging to keep track of the conversations happening both at the federal and state level. As Chief Medical Officer of Blue Cross, there are a few things I want to make sure every member knows and understands when it comes to vaccinations:

The power of preventive health
I want to be very clear – vaccines save lives. Over the past century, it’s been scientifically proven that vaccines are safe and effective at preventing – and, in some cases, completely eradicating – diseases that once caused great suffering throughout the world.

Blue Cross is strongly committed to ensuring high-quality healthcare for all our members. A cornerstone of better health is prevention, which includes vaccines. We encourage everyone to have annual checkups and speak with your doctor about vaccines.

Preventive vaccine coverage
Blue Cross is committed to ensuring access to vaccines that protect individuals and communities from serious illness. The decision to receive a vaccine is made between patients and their health care providers, and we remain committed to maintaining rigorous, evidence-based processes to evaluate coverage policies.

While there has been a lot of information in the news and online discussions related to vaccines, it is important to note that at Blue Cross, our vaccine coverage has not changed. Blue Cross will continue to cover preventive vaccines with no cost-sharing for members.

COVID-19 vaccine coverage
Blue Cross will continue to cover COVID-19 vaccinations for our members age six months and older. COVID-19 vaccines are covered at no cost to members when administered by an in-network healthcare provider or pharmacy.

Preventive care screening information
It’s important to see your primary care physician for a preventive care visit each year. To help keep track of the preventive care screening and immunization schedules for yourself and your family, here is a list of screening information by age:

As we head into the colder months, I hope you will talk to your primary care provider and consider taking proactive steps to protect your health and your family’s health . Vaccinations remain one of our most powerful tools to prevent serious illness. Together, we can make this fall and winter a time of wellness, safety, and care.