Veterans: Four steps to get your community flu shot

It’s that time of year: flu season is here. With COVID-19 circulating in our communities, getting a flu shot is more important than ever.

In addition to your local VA medical facility, flu vaccines are available at no cost to eligible Veterans at more than 70,000 in-network community care providers nationwide.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you can even get your flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine during the same visit.

Here are the four steps to getting your community flu vaccine:

1. Check your eligibility

Community flu vaccines are available to eligible Veterans who, both:

• Are enrolled in the VA health care system.
• Received care through VA from either a VA or community provider within the past 24 months. (This requirement is new for 2021-2022 flu season.)

To check your eligibility (for the community urgent care benefit, which includes the flu vaccine), either:

• Call 800-MyVA411 (800-698-2411), select option 1 (for urgent care information), then option 3 (for urgent care information), and then option 1 again (to check urgent care eligibility).
• Contact your local VA medical facility.

A great part of this benefit is that you can get a community flu vaccine without prior authorization. Flu vaccines provided are standard (quadrivalent), high dose and preservative-free.

2. Find a participating provider

To find an in-network provider, go to the VA Facility Locator:

• City, state or postal code: Enter the appropriate ZIP code for your area.
• Facility Type: Select “Urgent Care” or “Community pharmacies (in VA’s network).” If you select “Urgent Care,” choose “In-network community urgent care.”
• Click “Search.”
• Choose provider.

You can also call 877-881-7618 or your local VA medical facility for help locating an in-network provider. Make sure the provider is in-network to avoid being charged for the flu vaccine.

3. Go to the provider

Before going to the provider:

• Call ahead to make sure the provider offers the flu vaccine through this benefit.
• Print the Billing Information Card (or have it viewable on your mobile device) and take it with you to the provider.

When you arrive:

• Tell them you’re a Veteran enrolled in VA health care, and
• You would like to get a flu shot, paid for by VA.
• Show your government-issued ID and the Billing Information Card.

4. Get the vaccine

• Get your flu vaccine!

Copayments

There is no copayment charge if your visit consists only of a flu vaccine. In addition, flu-vaccine only visits don’t count towards visits and/or copayments associated with using VA’s community urgent care benefit.

If you are charged for the flu vaccine, call 877-881-7618 for assistance.

Documentation

Documentation of the flu vaccination is sent to VA by the community provider to update your medical record. You can also request a copy of the documentation showing you received the flu vaccine.

Support

• For help with eligibility and general questions, call 800-MyVA411 (800-698-2411), select option 1, then option 3, and then select option 1 again.
• For help when receiving a community flu vaccine, call 877-881-7618 or your local VA medical facility.

More information

• Flu Shots – Community Care
• Influenza (Flu) – VA National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
• Influenza (Flu) – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)