Member Update - September 2024

• For Your Health: The flu vaccine can prevent you from getting the flu or lessen the severity of illness if you get infected. This is particularly important if you are pregnant, over age 65, or have chronic medical conditions. A high-dose flu vaccine is available for those over 65.
• For Those Around You: Getting vaccinated helps reduce the risk of spreading the flu to vulnerable community members, including infants, pregnant individuals, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.
• NOTE: The CDC has confirmed that individuals with egg allergies can now safely receive any flu vaccine.

COVID Update

We have also seen a rise in COVID cases at Yale and beyond, with new variants continuing to emerge. It is likely we will see another wave of cases late fall and into winter, as in previous years. An updated COVID vaccine, designed to provide better protection against current variants, is available. Yale Health members can be vaccinated through the Yale Flu and COVID Vaccine Program or may choose to receive a COVID vaccine at local pharmacies (note that the flu vaccine must be received through Yale Health). Bring your Yale Health card or download it here. Children must be vaccinated through the Pediatrics department when the vaccine is available (see below).

How to Schedule Your Flu and COVID Vaccines

Getting your vaccines is free and easy! Use our streamlined Flu and COVID Vaccine Scheduler to book your appointment right now. If you need assistance with scheduling, please call 203-432-8797.

• Multiple Dates and Locations: We have various options to meet your needs.
• Flu vaccine: may be administered during a scheduled primary care visit as well as in our clinics.
• COVID Vaccine: The COVID vaccine will be available beginning on September 16. The flu vaccine may be administered at the same time for those who request it. Having both vaccines on the same day is safe and convenient.
• As in previous years, children may be vaccinated for flu during a visit, or in one of our Family Flu clinics where adults may receive flu vaccine as well (select the Adult/Pediatric Saturday Family Flu clinic option during scheduling). A separate message will come from Pediatrics when the COVID vaccine is available.

RSV Information

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) can cause serious illness, particularly in infants and older adults. The CDC has recently updated its recommendations as follows:

• Everyone age 75 and older should be vaccinated.
• People between ages 60 and 74 should be vaccinated if they are at increased risk of severe disease, including those with immune compromise, on immunosuppressing medications, with chronic heart and lung disease, or living in long-term care facilities.
• To protect infants, a single dose of Abrysvo vaccine should be administered during weeks 32-36 of pregnancy, during the months of September through January.

The RSV vaccine is only available through the Immunization Department, not at vaccination clinics. You may schedule directly in MyChart or call 203-432-8797.

Do Your Part to Keep Yourself and Our Community Safe!

Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to protect your health and the well-being of those around you. We encourage you to take this important step toward ensuring a safer, healthier season for all.

Thank you for being a proactive member of our community.

To ensure our members receive the highest quality of care, it is imperative that we collect accurate information regarding your race, ethnicity, ethnic background, preferred language, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

To promote this collection of important information, Yale Health has joined a nationwide effort called "We Ask Because We Care." It aims to improve patient outcomes and strengthen patient partnerships. We aim to know our members, verify that we provide the highest quality care to all, and address any variations or gaps we identify.

We encourage you to take a few moments to update your information in MyChart using the following steps:

1. Log in to your MyChart account.
2. Open the 'Menu' and go to 'Preferences and Account Settings.'
3. Select 'Personal Information.'

Find 'Details About Me' and select Edit.