Did You Know Children and Teens Can Get Vaccinated at the Pharmacy?
Amy Barczy
| 2 min read
Amy Barczy is a former brand journalist who authored content at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Prior to her time at Blue Cross from 2019-2024, she was a statewide news reporter for MLive.com. She has a decade of storytelling experience in local news media markets including Lansing, Grand Rapids, Holland, Ann Arbor and Port Huron.
Parents now have more options to keep their child up to date on vaccines. Pharmacies can offer routine shots to children and teens, which means keeping your family healthy just got a little bit easier. In many communities, pharmacists are the most accessible health care professionals – and pharmacies typically have flexible hours that extend beyond 9-to-5. Most pharmacies now administer immunizations to children aged 3 years to 18 years, and many offer the convenience of on-line scheduling. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan covers a number of pediatric vaccines through the pharmacy benefit. Members have the option to receive their routine vaccines at pharmacies within our network. Check with your pharmacy to see if they are offering this service, as not every pharmacy may offer immunizations to all age groups. It’s important for children and teens to continue to get vaccinated against infectious diseases, including the seasonal flu and COVID-19. Routine vaccinations for children that protect against diseases such as the flu, measles, mumps, rubella, rotavirus, polio and pneumonia are all highly important. There are also routine vaccinations for adolescents that are available at pharmacies including vaccines which protect against the human papillomavirus (HPV), meningococcal disease, and tetanus, pertussis and diphtheria (Tdap) booster. Vaccinations protect children and teens from these damaging illnesses and overall, keep the population healthy – which is especially critical now as many children and teens have missed routine vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccines are essential to public health. Blue Cross and Blue Care Network are committed to increasing access and removing barriers to health care. More from MIBluesPerspectives:
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Photo credit: SDI Productions
