Protecting your health with vaccines | Oscar Rx | hioscar Blog | Oscar
Protecting your health with vaccines
Vaccines are one of the most effective ways to prevent serious illness – and they’re covered by your Oscar plan.
Benefits Oscar Health Insurance
5 min read
Dr. Amy Esposito
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Getting a shot can be nerve-wracking, but vaccines are one of the most effective ways you can protect yourself, your children, and those you love from harmful, life-threatening illnesses. Even better, many are free with your health insurance plan.
We spoke with Oscar Center (opens in new tab) M.D. Amy Esposito to learn more about how vaccines can help you stay healthy. Here’s everything you need to know about shots and why you should get immunized.
What exactly are vaccines?
It’s easy to confuse vaccines with immunization, but actually, they’re two different things.
Vaccines are a substance that stimulate the production of antibodies in your immune system. As a result, your body becomes immune to the disease, and you become less likely to get sick. Immunization is the process by which you’re made immune to an infectious disease. It occurs as the result of vaccination, which you receive through a vaccine (aka shot).
Vaccines are typically administered via injection, but can also be taken orally or through a nasal spray. Every vaccine has a different period of activation. This means you’ll need to receive certain shots more frequently than others to maintain immunity to those diseases.
Why is vaccination important?
This August, we’re celebrating National Immunization Awareness Month – a great reminder of just how important vaccines really are. It’s a good idea to seriously consider getting yourself and your family vaccinated, since they’re the most effective method of disease prevention. For centuries, vaccines have prevented the spread of many serious illnesses like polio, measles, hepatitis, and meningitis. As a result, fewer people suffer from their lasting effects, and many lives have been saved.
In recent years, vaccines have gotten a bad rap thanks to a retracted article (opens in new tab) that inaccurately linked vaccines to autism. The truth is that vaccines prevent two to three million disease-related deaths a year (opens in new tab). There are no proven scientific studies showing that vaccinations are connected to cognitive dysfunction or learning disabilities in either children or adults. While getting vaccinated is a personal choice, we think it’s a no-brainer. Immunization saves lives.
Preventive vaccines are free when you get them during well-child exams or annual physicals. Your doctor will determine which vaccines you need based on your age, certain risk factors, and the season. Here’s what’s covered under your Oscar plan.
For everyone
Flu shot (aka influenza vaccine): Reduces your risk of catching the flu or shortens the duration of the illness. These are typically administered at the start of flu season.
Tdap vaccine: Prevents tetanus, a disease caused from contact with harmful bacteria found in soil, dust, manure, and rusted metal surfaces. Will also protect you from diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough). Children under age 7 receive a similar vaccine called a DTaP shot for these conditions. A Tdap will also be administered if you come in contact with a contaminated substance such as a rusty nail.
Hep A + Hep B vaccines: Prevents Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B, viral infections that affect liver function. Hep A immunization requires two shots six months apart and are typically administered to adults. Hep B immunization requires three shots over six months and are given to children. When immunization is complete, you’ll have lifetime immunity.
Pneumococcal shot: Prevents pneumonia, a harmful bacterial infection caused by streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. These are often given to people living in communal spaces, like college students living in dorms.
Varicella vaccine: Prevents or lessens severity of the chicken pox, a virus that causes a painful rash in children. It may also recur in adulthood as shingles (aka herpes zoster).
MMR shot: Prevents measles, mumps, and rubella, severe viral infections that cause skin rashes, flu-like symptoms, swollen glands, and enlarged lymph nodes. Thses shots are typically given to babies.
Hib (aka haemophilus influenzae type b) shot: Protects you from bacterial infections that cause meningitis and related lung or throat infections. These vaccines are typically given to babies.
Adults only (19 years of age and older)
Zoster vaccine: Prevents shingles, a recurrence of the herpes zoster virus for those who’ve had chickenpox. Shingles can affect everyone, but it’s most common with people over the age of 50. The CDC recommends this vaccine (opens in new tab) for people ages 60 and over and people with certain diseases.
Adults and adolescents
HPV vaccine: A series of three vaccines that prevents human papillomavirus, which can lead to cervical, penile, throat, and anal cancer. These are typically given to young adults up to age of 26, prior to sexual activity.
Meningococcal shot: Prevents certain types of meningitis, a serious infection that causes inflammation of the brain and spine. Types A, C, and Y are covered in full for all adults, while type B is covered, but subject to cost-sharing (opens in new tab).
Adolescents, children, and infants
Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV): Prevents polio, an infectious disease that causes muscle weakness and paralysis.
Infants and children age 7 or younger
RV shot: Protects children against rotavirus, a viral infection that causes gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach or intestine).
Where to get poked
Your primary care doctor or pediatrician may carry a supply of certain vaccines in their office. If possible, check in with your doctor when you make your appointment to see what vaccines you’ll need and if the office carries them. If not, you may need to fill a prescription at your local pharmacy and bring it with you to your appointment. Otherwise, you’ll need to return for a separate appointment, and you may be responsible for the cost of the visit.
Travel vaccines are typically administered by infectious disease specialists (opens in new tab), though some primary care doctors may also be able to administer them. Most clinics don’t typically carry these vaccines in-house, so you may need to make a trip to a pharmacy before your visit.
Taking shots like a pro
Getting vaccinated is a little uncomfortable, but there are things you can do to minimize the pain. The next time you get a shot, focus on your breathing. Count to three during each inhalation and exhalation. Relax your arm. Focus on one point in the room. Maintaining an even and relaxed breath will help make your next shot a breeze.
Pro tip from Dr. Esposito: Get as many vaccines as you can at once. This will offer you stronger and longer immunity.
If you have any questions about your immunization benefits or where to get your preventive vaccinations, give your Concierge team a call at 855-672-2755 or message them in the Oscar App (opens in new tab). We’re here to help!
