UK Health Plans members can now get three vaccines directly from pharmacies

Beginning September 1, UK-HMO members can receive the following three vaccines at no cost through your primary care provider with your UK-HMO card OR through the UK Pharmacy Benefit at one of the UK Retail Pharmacies or a local retail pharmacy by presenting your pharmacy benefit card. The vaccines are:

• Shingrix vaccine for prevention of shingles. (You must be over 50 years of age to receive this). This does require a series of two shots, the initial dose and then a six-month follow-up shot. There is currently a shortage of this vaccine, but you may ask to be placed on a waiting list at one of the retail pharmacies to be given the injection when it is available.
• Hepatitis A vaccine. This vaccine is also a two-dose series, with the second dose given at least six months after the first. Hepatitis A has been in the news a lot lately. Check with your primary care provider or pharmacist to see if they recommend you receive a hepatitis A vaccine.
• Flu vaccine. As flu season begins again, it is always a good idea to get a flu vaccine to help prevent the flu in yourself and help keep it from spreading to others. As in years past, the seasonal influenza vaccine is required for all UK HealthCare employees who are located in a UK HealthCare patient care facility. These employees should plan to receive their flu vaccine at one of the scheduled Employee Health flu clinics if possible. Please see the list of scheduled flu clinic dates and locations. For questions, please email employeehealth@uky.edu.

All other vaccines on the UK-HMO plan must be obtained in your primary care provider’s office.

If there are any questions about these immunizations, please contact the UK-HMO office at 859-257-8251 or the UK Pharmacy Benefits office at 859-218-5979 or stop by one of the UK Retail Pharmacies for more information.