Blue Review
A newsletter for Medicaid providers

December 2018

Be Prepared for this Year’s Influenza Season

Influenza viruses circulate in the U.S. annually, most commonly from late fall through early spring.

Influenza Vaccine Composition for the 2018-19 Season
Both the trivalent and quadrivalent influenza vaccines are available in the U.S. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends the following regarding seasonal influenza vaccines in the U.S.:

Routine annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all persons aged ≥6 months who do not have contraindications. A licensed, recommended, and age-appropriate vaccine should be used. Inactivated influenza vaccines (IIVs), recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV), and live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) are expected to be available for the 2018–19 season. Standard-dose, unadjuvanted, inactivated influenza vaccines will be available in quadrivalent (IIV4) and trivalent (IIV3) formulations. Recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV4) and live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV4) will be available in quadrivalent formulations. High-dose inactivated influenza vaccine (HD-IIV3) and adjuvanted inactivated influenza vaccine (aIIV3) will be available in trivalent formulations.

Influenza vaccines are available through two different options:

1. Provider Offices

  • Ensure that an ample supply of current vaccines is available in preparation for this year’s influenza season.
  • Reach out to your patients to schedule their Texas Health Steps checkup or well-child checkup, and to receive their flu vaccine.

2. Pharmacies

  • The pharmacy program has been expanded to provide coverage to children aged 7 years and up.
  • Encourage your patients to provide a verification of the influenza vaccination for your records.
  • View a list of in-network pharmacies.

Provider Action: Continue educating your patients and staff on the importance of the influenza vaccine for themselves and family members.

If you have any questions for the Quality Improvement Department, please reach out to:

Kathleen Thompson, MPH, CPHQ
Director, Quality TX Medicaid
Kathleen_m_thompson@bcbstx.com 
512-349-4836

Susan Greenberg
Quality Management Specialist III        
Susan_Greenberg@bcbstx.com
512-349-4811

Source: Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices—United States, 2018–19 Influenza Season, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Aug. 24, 2018