Fall is Vaccination Season

An annual flu shot reduces risk of contracting influenza and helps decrease the severity of illness should you become sick with the flu. Learn more about influenza, and reach out to your primary care provider’s office by phone or MyChart message to schedule your vaccination beginning in early October.

Continued COVID-19 vaccination protects you from serious illness, hospitalization and death. This fall brings the new bivalent booster. It contains components of the original virus strain and the Omicron variant to offer broader protection.

• The Moderna bivalent booster is for people 6 years and older.
• The Pfizer BioNtech bivalent booster is for people 5 years and older.

Both bivalent boosters are for those who have completed their primary vaccination series and are at least 2 months from receiving their final primary dose or most recent booster. View a helpful vaccination schedule from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Are you immunosuppressed? You may receive a bivalent booster at least 2 months following completion of your recommended primary series plus the currently recommended booster.

Learn more about COVID-19 and reach out to your provider’s office to schedule your primary COVID-19 vaccination series or bivalent booster by phone or MyChart message. We offer Moderna and Pfizer BioNtech boosters based on dose availability. You may safely receive the soonest-available dose regardless of the primary series you received.

Monkeypox remains in our daily news, and many wonder whether they should get vaccinated. The health system follows CDC eligibility guidance and offers the 2-dose vaccination series to qualifying patients. Learn more about monkeypox, risk reduction and vaccine eligibility. If you believe you’re vaccine-eligible, call your provider’s office or send a MyChart message to inquire and schedule a vaccination appointment.

• In Kansas City
  The health system is providing flu, COVID-19 and monkeypox vaccinations to current patients by appointment only. Contact your provider’s office by phone or MyChart message to schedule. You may receive your flu shot and COVID-19 booster in conjunction with upcoming scheduled care. 
  
  
• In Great Bend
  Great Bend-area patients can get their flu shots by scheduling an appointment with Family Medicine or walk in to our Convenient Care at St. Rose Medical Pavilion. For COVID-19 boosters and monkeypox vaccines, contact the Barton County Health Department.
  
  
• In your community
  You may choose to receive vaccinations at a local community provider. MyChart users, visit your account and upload the the details afterward. Keep your medical record current and your care team informed.