When germs like bacteria and viruses enter your body, they can grow and cause an infection, which can make you sick. Vaccines help to protect your body from these infections and to stay healthy.
There are many different vaccines available to protect you. We're highlighting three types of vaccines — flu, pneumococcal and shingles — and encourage you to talk to your doctor or pharmacist to find out if these shots are right for you.
- Anyone can get the flu. Everyone ages 6 months and over should have the flu shot once a year.
- The flu is a virus that can be spread by coughing, sneezing or even talking.
- There are over 35.6 million cases of flu each year with at least 710,000 hospitalizations and up to 56,000 deaths.
- Protecting yourself from the flu helps prevent spreading it to others.
- Even if you got the flu shot before, you still need to get it every year to stay protected.
- The flu shot cannot give you the flu.
- Some flu vaccines are made using eggs. But even if you are allergic to eggs, you can still get the flu shot. Talk to your doctor about your concerns.
How much will it cost?
For 2024, when you decide to get the vaccine at your local pharmacy, this is how much it will cost you:
Influenza Vaccine* | |
L.A. Care Medicare Plus | $0 under Part B |
L.A. Care Covered | $0 |
PASC-SEIU Plan | $0 |
| *Pharmacy benefit subject to change. Please consult member services or your plan's formulary for official details. | |
- This shot helps your body fight against the pneumococcal bacteria that can cause pneumonia, blood infections, ear infections and meningitis.
- All children younger than 2 years old and all adults over 65 should get pneumococcal shots.
- One, two, or three pneumococcal shots may be recommended, depending on your age and health.
- If you are over the age of 65 and already got one pneumococcal shot, you still need one more to be protected.
- Some people between the ages 2 to 64 can also get the pneumococcal shot if they have diabetes, heart, liver, or kidney disease.
- Adults ages 19 through 64 who smoke cigarettes should also be vaccinated.
- About 18,000 older adults die each year from pneumococcal disease.
How much will it cost?
For 2024, when you decide to get the vaccine at your local pharmacy, this is how much it will cost you:
Pneumococcal Vaccine* | |
L.A. Care Medicare Plus | $0 under Part B |
L.A. Care Covered | $0 |
PASC-SEIU Plan | $0 |
| *Pharmacy benefit subject to change. Please consult member services or your plan's formulary for official details. | |
- Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a very painful skin rash. It is caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox (the varicella zoster virus).
- One out of three people over the age of 60 will get shingles.
- You can get shingles if you had chicken pox before or received the chicken pox shot.
- All healthy adults over the age of 50 should get two shingles shots, at least 2 to 6 months apart.
- You can have more than one experience with shingles in your lifetime without being vaccinated.
How much will it cost?
For 2024, when you decide to get the vaccine at your local pharmacy, this is how much it will cost you:
Shingles Vaccine* | |
L.A. Care Medicare Plus | $0 |
L.A. Care Covered | $0 |
PASC-SEIU Plan | Not Covered |
| *Pharmacy benefit subject to change. If the vaccine is not covered under the pharmacy benefit, coverage may be available under the medical benefit. Please consult member services or your plan's formulary for official details. | |
- Other vaccines may be covered for you. Please check your health plan's formulary under Related Links or Resources for all vaccines available at a network pharmacy.
- COVID-19 vaccines are available. Please check for the latest information on our COVID-19 Vaccines webpage.
- Monkeypox vaccines may be available for those at high risk. For the most updated information, please visit County of Los Angeles Public Health or call 833-540-0473, 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. for more information.