COVID-19 Vaccine: What Seniors Need to Know
By Christopher Ciano, president of Aetna Medicare, a CVS Health company

The accelerated development of COVID-19 vaccines is a marvel of science, but for some its distribution comes with concerns about receiving it. In fact, a recent survey from CVS Health found that 55% would either wait until others had been vaccinated or are uncertain about receiving a vaccination at all.

For the older population, it’s especially important they take this step to help protect their health. I encourage caregivers and family members to have a conversation with their aging loved ones around the importance of getting the COVID-19 vaccine. To help you get started, I provided responses to some frequently asked questions we’ve been getting below:

Is getting the vaccine safe?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized two COVID-19 vaccines which have been shown to be safe and effective. This has been determined by data, both from the manufacturers and findings from large clinical trials. This demonstrates that the known and potential benefits of this vaccine outweigh the known and potential harms of becoming infected with COVID-19.

CVS Health is only administering vaccines that have been authorized for use by the FDA and our COVID-19 vaccination services are being conducted in compliance with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for safe delivery of vaccines.

When and where can seniors get vaccinated?

Those aged 65 and over have been prioritized by the CDC for COVID-19 vaccine distribution and are eligible to receive the vaccine according to state distribution guidelines. COVID-19 vaccinations are available at select pharmacies as well as doctors’ offices at other clinical sites of care. The initial list of pharmacies participating with the federal government in the administration of the vaccine can be found here.

Our State Resource lookup tool provides links to each state’s health department and vaccine resource page, so you can get the latest information about when and where vaccines will be available in your area. CVS is currently working with several states to help vaccinate their priority populations, including seniors, in a small number of CVS Pharmacy locations. Please visit CVS.com for the latest updates on availability at CVS locations in your area. Timing and eligibility will vary from state to state, based on state guidelines.

Will there be any out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries that receive a COVID-19 vaccine?

No. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will cover the full cost of the vaccine for all Medicare beneficiaries, including those in a Medicare Advantage plan.

After I get a COVID-19 vaccine, is it safe to visit in person with friends and family?

According to Daniel C. DeSimone, M.D. and Infectious Disease Specialist at Mayo Clinic, it's still important to take safety precautions after receiving the vaccine. Because further research is needed to understand the immunity that a COVID-19 vaccine provides and how long protection lasts, experts are still recommending people continue to take safety precautions such as social distancing, hand washing and mask wearing until they are notified that it is safe to do otherwise.

My mother, who resides in an independent living facility, just received her second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. I look forward to the time when we can resume our in-person visits. Until life returns to some sense of normalcy, encouraging your older loved ones to get vaccinated and continue following safety guidelines can save their lives.

For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine, please visit: https://cvshealth.com/covid-19/vaccine-information.

 




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