Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center

FHCC getting ready for Flu Season

This year, Lovell FHCC will be providing flu shots around mid-October for our veteran population and late November for our DoD/Tricare beneficiaries. However, in the meantime, you are encouraged to visit participating pharmacies in your community for free flu shots.

Veterans, you may use the link to find the closest participating pharmacy to your home: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/flu/index.asp. Select the “Local Facility” link. Enter your zip code. And select from the pharmacies close to your home. We do recommend calling first to ensure that facility has the vaccine for you. Please note, you must be 65 or older, or have medical documentation from your provider, to receive the high-dose flu shot. Important to note, Walgreen's is no longer contracted with the VA. This year, CVS was contracted to take care of our veterans.

DoD/Tricare beneficiaries, go to: https://www.tricare.mil/CoveredSer.../IsItCovered/FluVaccine. Under “Participating Network Pharmacy” select “Search online” then “Find a pharmacy” and enter your zip code. We do recommend calling first to ensure that facility has the vaccine for you. Please note, Walgreen's continues to be contracted to provide the vaccine to our Tricare (including Active Duty) beneficiaries.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that between October 1, 2019 and April 4, 2020, up to 56 million people contracted the flu. Up to 740,000 were hospitalized, and there were as many as 62,000 deaths. Unlike COVID-19, a vaccine to combat influenza is now available, and it’s the time of year to protect you, your loved ones and the community from the nastiness of “the flu!”