Catch Up on Vaccines for All Ages

22 de octubre de 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted routine immunizations for children, adolescents and adults, according to the Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de los EE. UU. (HHS, en inglés) Más información sobre enlaces de terceros. You may hear from our members about catching up on delayed vaccinations. We've created resources for them about staying current on routine vaccines. In coordination with Merck & Co., we've also reached out to some members reminding them to discuss vaccines with their providers. Examples of routine vaccinations include:

  • Influenza (flu) vaccine annually for ages 6 months and older
  • Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for ages 9 to 14, or for ages 15 to 26 if not received earlier, to protect against some cancers
  • Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine for ages 12 to 15 months; 4 to 6 years; and adults with no immunity or medical conditions
  • Pneumonia vaccine for older adults and adults with health issues that weaken their immune system
  • Shingles vaccine for adults ages 50 and older

Vea nuestras  recomendaciones de cuidado preventivo on immunization schedules.

COVID-19 vaccine: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the COVID-19 vaccine for everyone ages 12 and older Más información sobre enlaces de terceros y booster shots in certain populations Más información sobre enlaces de terceros. The CDC says that other vaccines may be given Más información sobre enlaces de terceros with the COVID-19 vaccine. The Food and Drug Administration granted full approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for ages 16 and older, and emergency use authorization (EUA) for ages 12 to 15. The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines have EUA for ages 18 and older. COVID-19 vaccines may be approved for younger children this fall. We will update vaccination information on our website when this occurs. Más información sobre COVID-19 vaccines and coverage.

Closing Care Gaps
As part of monitoring and helping improve quality of care, we track two measures related to immunizations. Both are Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) measures from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

  • Child Immunization Status Más información sobre enlaces de terceros, which tracks the percentage of children who received by their 2nd birthday a total of four diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis (DTaP); three polio (IPV); one MMR; three haemophilus influenza type B (HiB); three hepatitis B (Hep B); one varicella (VZV); four pneumococcal (PCV); one hepatitis A (Hep A); two or three rotavirus (RV); and two flu vaccines.
  • Immunizations for Adolescents Más información sobre enlaces de terceros, which tracks the percentage of 13-year-olds who had one dose of meningococcal vaccine; one tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap); and the complete HPV vaccine series by their 13th birthday.

Tips to Consider

  • Identify members who have missed vaccinations and contact them or their caregivers to schedule appointments.
  • Check at each visit for any missing immunizations and deliver vaccines that are due.
  • Address common misconceptions about vaccines.

El material que se muestra anteriormente tiene fines informativos únicamente y no reemplaza el juicio médico independiente de un médico u otro profesional médico. Se recomienda a los médicos y otros profesionales médicos que usen su propio criterio médico basado en toda la información disponible y en la condición del paciente para determinar el curso de tratamiento apropiado. La descripción de un servicio o tratamiento en este material no garantiza que el servicio o tratamiento sea un beneficio con cobertura, y los asegurados deben consultar su certificado de cobertura para obtener más detalles sobre los beneficios, las limitaciones y las exclusiones. Independientemente de los beneficios, la decisión final sobre cualquier servicio o tratamiento la toman el asegurado y su médico.

HEDIS es una marca comercial registrada de NCQA. Use of this resource is subject to NCQA's copyright, found here.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico, una división de Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, licenciataria independiente de Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association