Health officials and the media are already reporting on how dangerous this flu season is for people across the country.
To assist you in protecting your patients against the flu, we're sharing the CDC update and making flu shots available at our L.A. Care network pharmacies. Please remind your patients that the flu season is here and let them know about the options they have for getting the flu shot.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Update for the 2017-2018 Flu Season:
- The recommendation to not use the nasal spray flu vaccine (LAIV) was renewed for the 2017-2018 season. Only injectable flu shots are recommended for use again this season.
- Flu vaccines have been updated to better match circulating viruses (the H1N1 component was updated).
- Pregnant women may receive any licensed, recommended, and age-appropriate flu vaccine.
- Two new quadrivalent (four-component) flu vaccines have been licensed: one inactivated influenza vaccine (“Afluria Quadrivalent” IIV) and one recombinant influenza vaccine (“Flublok Qudrivalent” RIV).
- The age recommendation for “Flulaval Quadrivalent” has been changed from 3 years old and older to 6 months and older to be consistent with FDA-approved labeling.
- The trivalent formulation of Afluria is recommended for people 5 years and older (from 9 years and older) in order to match the Food and Drug Administration package insert.
To find out more about the L.A. Care list of covered drugs, the Formulary and monthly Formulary updates, please visit the Provider section of our site. You will also find information about: Formulary limits or quotas, generic and brand medications, restrictions on medication coverage, the medication request process, drug preferences and how to use the Formulary procedures.