Flu, Covid, and RSV Vaccine Updates
Hi, thank you for coming back for the latest edition of Beyond Primary Care’s blog- Flu, Covid, and RSV vaccine. In Beyond Primary Care blogs we highlight healthcare news, advice for medical conditions, and how membership for care works! Beyond Primary Care is an insurance free, membership based family medicine clinic. Beyond Primary Care is the highest rated Direct Primary Care clinic serving patients in Ann Arbor and throughout Washtenaw, Livingston, and Wayne counties giving families and employers peace of mind about healthcare costs by providing affordable and accessible primary care services.
In this blog post, we wanted to give our patients and prospective patients updates on Flu, Covid, and RSV vaccines.
Flu Vaccine
For the fifth year in a row, Beyond Primary Care will be offering flu shots for $20 / shot at the clinic.
Please call us at 734-562-0774 or message us through the portal to get yours.
Our shots are approved for anyone 6 months and older.
We have 150 shots available total, and our vaccine administration will end at the end of February 2024.
Do Flu Shots cost money?
There is no such thing as a 'free flu shot,' even if you have health insurance. Yes, your health insurance may pay for the shot, but those costs are ultimately passed down to you in the form of ever-increasing higher premiums directly to you or deducted from your employer paycheck. Oftentimes, chain pharmacies charge your insurance for the cost of the vaccine and a 'procedure fee' of around $40.
Our 'true cost' for each vaccine in 2023 is $18.15.
With a margin of less than two dollars, Beyond Primary Care is not profiting from this. Instead, we offer this service to our patients as a means to quickly access the flu shots in an affordable and efficient manner and we appreciate every person's acknowledgement of this commitment to them.
Want more information about the Flu shot? Please check out earlier information we had about it here.
Additionally, you can see Dr. Jeff O’Boyle get the Flu Shot here on Instagram.
Covid Vaccine: Fall 2023
The Latest News:
On Monday 9/11/23, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave the go-ahead to vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer. A new vaccine from Novavax is under FDA review and may be approved soon. Johnson and Johnson will likely not be widely available.
Who Should Get It:
The CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against the potentially serious outcomes of COVID-19 illness this fall and winter.
How Many Shots:
The shots would be given as a single dose for most people 5 years of age and older, regardless of prior Covid-19 vaccination history. Children younger than 5 may be eligible for multiple doses of this season's vaccine if they had not previously finished a three-dose series with earlier Covid-19 vaccines.
Where To Get The Shots:
Previously, the Covid-19 vaccines were free through the federal government. Covid-19 vaccines will be transitioning to the commercial market. Pfizer and Moderna had both previously announced the vaccines would be listed at between $120 to $130 after they switched to the private market. As a consequence, unlike the past 2 years Beyond Primary Care will not be able to stock the Covid-19 vaccines for the foreseeable future. I am saddened by this and am actively looking into programs that will cover the costs of the vaccine for our patients.
In the meantime, individuals with private insurances, Medicaid, or Medicare will be able to get the Covid-19 vaccine at most pharmacies at no cost to you. The estimated 25-30 million adults in the US without insurance or with limited insurance plans will still have access to the vaccines for free through a CDC initiative called the Bridge Access Program. The program is designed to provide vaccines through local health care providers and health centers, and select pharmacies.
You can find covid-19 vaccines through this link here
RSV Vaccine
The Respiratory Syncytial Virus .... ahhh Scheisse, pardon my German but that's one heck of a mouthful, let's stick with RSV
This is a common virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or two, but- dun dun dun (think ominous sound) - RSV can be serious. Infants and older adults are more likely to develop severe RSV and need hospitalization.
There are a few new & eagerly awaited vaccines now available... This is kinda a BIG deal, as before doctors and hospitals could offer little more than hugs and support in the event of infection. Now, hopes are to prevent it.
First, The Expecting Mothers:
A RSV vaccine called Abrysvo was approved by the FDA on 05/31/2023 for those who are between 32 and 36 weeks pregnant. Since RSV is highly contagious, this vaccine aims to reduce the risk of severe illness in both the pregnant patient and newborns during the first months of life.
Studies found a small increased risk of pre-eclampsia, low birth weight and pre-term birth. Anyone who is pregnant who is considering receiving the RSV vaccine should speak with their obstetrics doc to discuss potential risks and benefits.
Next: Infants and Toddlers
On 07/17/2023, a RSV vaccine called Beyfortus was approved by the FDA for all infants aged < 12 months who are born during or entering their first RSV season and for infants and children aged 12–24 months who are at increased risk for severe RSV disease and are entering their second RSV season.
Just as Important: Older Adults
On 05/03/2023, the FDA approved Arexvy, the first RSV vaccine approved for use in the United States in individuals 60 years of age and older. Older adults, in particular those with underlying health conditions, such as heart or lung disease or weakened immune systems, are at high risk for severe disease caused by RSV
The only curve ball with this vaccine is the insurance coverage. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), gave a softer recommendation to this RSV vaccine, so coverage is going to be variable.
For those with certain Medicare plans, the RSV vaccine should be covered, specifically under a Part D plan. If you don’t have drug coverage, you could have a substantial co-pay for it. Private insurance could cover it, but they’re not legally required to do it for 12 months. So your insurance company might or might not cover it.
Thank you for reading
To make an appointment with Dr. Jeff O’Boyle please see our scheduling link.
