People from racial and ethnic minority groups are disproportionately affected when it comes to receiving recommended vaccines. Many factors can contribute to lower vaccination rates, including concerns about vaccine safety and limited access to health care and coverage.
Importance of Immunizations
Immunizations, often referred to as vaccinations, vaccines, or shots, may include commonly known vaccinations, such as flu shots and COVID-19 vaccines, in addition to other important, routine vaccinations for different age groups. The CDC recommends certain vaccines, including the Tdap, Td, HPV, influenza, and hepatitis B vaccines, for teens and adults based on different age groups. CDC also recommends that adults over the age of 50 receive the shingles vaccine, pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, which protect against serious pneumococcal diseases, including meningitis and pneumonia.
Racial and ethnic minority groups are disproportionately affected when it comes to receiving recommended vaccines. Many factors can contribute to lower vaccination rates, including concerns about vaccine safety and limited access to care and health coverage.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health has compiled the following immunization resources for health care providers, partners, and patients. We have also prepared a list of resources in other languages.
COVID-19 Vaccine Resources
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH) has compiled federal resources on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine for health care professionals, partners and patients. We have also prepared a list of resources in other languages. Please share these materials, bookmark the page, and check back often for the most up-to-date information.
Find More COVID-19 Vaccine Resources
To keep up with the latest information about COVID-19, visit www.coronavirus.gov. For a complete and updated list of CMS actions, and other information specific to CMS, please visit the Current Emergencies Website.
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Flu Resources for Health Care Professionals
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Annual Influenza Vaccination Disparities in Medicare Beneficiaries (PDF): Snapshot of vaccination data by race, ethnicity, and gender among people on Medicare.
CMS Flu Shot Information: Information for those who administer flu shots.CMS Seasonal Influenza Vaccines Pricing: Pricing information for Medicare providers who administer seasonal flu vaccines.CDC Flu Activity & Surveillance: Weekly surveillance reports and interactive tools to show how flu activity is spreading across the U.S.CDC FluSight: An interactive tool that forecasts the spread of flu to help providers and health care professionals plan for flu.CDC Vaccination Guidance During a Pandemic: Information for health care providers and patients about steps they should take to get the flu vaccine, among other vaccines, during the COVID-19 pandemic, including information on who should get vaccinated.CDC Prevention Strategies for Seasonal Influenza in Healthcare Settings: Tips to help health care workers and others in health care settings stay safe and healthy during flu season.CDC Information for Clinicians on Influenza Virus Testing: Flu testing information, including when to test and types of tests.Visit www.cms.gov/flu for a complete list of CMS flu vaccine resources.
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Flu Resources for Patients and Partners
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Additional Immunization and Vaccination Resources for Patients and Partners
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Preventative and Screening Services: Type your test, item, or service and find out if it is covered under your Medicare coverage.C2C Prevention Resources: C2C prevention resources on immunizations and other no-cost services for adults, teens, children, and infants.
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Childhood Vaccine Resources
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The CDC now recommends that all children ages 6 months and older get a COVID-19 vaccine to help protect against COVID-19. Children ages 6 months and older are able to get an age-appropriate dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The federal government is providing the COVID-19 vaccine free of charge to all people living in the U.S. regardless of immigration or health insurance status.
Check with your child’s provider about whether they offer COVID-19 vaccination or your local pharmacy to see if walk-ins or appointments are available for children.
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Resources in Other Languages
Shareable CMS Resources to Promote Flu Vaccines
Share the importance of flu shots with your partners, community members, and Medicare enrollees. Download the graphics below to post on your social media channels. Find more shareable resources like social media and blog content and graphics in 18 languages.
