A cold or the flu can leave you feeling miserable for days, but a few simple habits can help keep you healthy and strong. Wash your hands often with soap and water and try not to touch your face—especially your eyes, nose and mouth. Stay away from people who are sick when you can, and if you’re not feeling well, it’s best to stay home. Wear a mask if you are coughing, sneezing or have a runny nose. Eating well, staying active, getting enough rest and drinking plenty of water can all help your body fight off illness.

Stay healthy this cold and flu season

Vaccines are another great way to protect yourself from serious illnesses like flu, RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus), COVID-19 and pneumonia. Vaccines can keep you from getting very sick and needing medical care for these illnesses. These vaccines are available at no cost to Veterans who receive care at VA.  

You might have questions about vaccines, such as:

  1. What vaccines are recommended for me this season?
  2. How else can I stay healthy and keep from getting sick?
  3. Can I receive all recommended vaccines at once, or should they be spaced out?

We want you to be involved in your health care. Ask your VA health care provider questions about the vaccines that are recommended for you. You can call your local VA to learn when and where you can get vaccines. You can also send a secure message to your provider through My HealtheVet.  The decision aid tools on the Veterans Health Library can also guide you through questions related to certain vaccines, preventative screenings and health conditions.

Flu and COVID-19 vaccines are also available at VA’s network of over 70,000 community pharmacies and urgent care locations nationwide. If you choose to get a vaccine outside of VA, let them know you’re a Veteran enrolled in VA health care and bring this billing information card with you. Flu and COVID-19 vaccines do not require a prescription at VA network locations. For help with in-network community vaccines, call 877-881-7618 or contact your local VA facility. Learn more about no-cost vaccines.

If you received vaccines outside of VA, please tell your VA health care team. You can bring your vaccine records to your next appointment or send a secure message in My HealtheVet and include a record of your vaccination.

If you don’t receive VA health care and are interested in applying, you can learn more about eligibility and benefits.

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The comments section is for opinions and feedback on this particular article; this is not a customer support channel. If you are looking for assistance, please visit Ask VA or call 1-800-698-2411. Please, never put personally identifiable information (SSAN, address, phone number, etc.) or protected health information into the form — it will be deleted for your protection.

11 Comments

  1. Nate O. August 21, 2025 at 11:15

    STOP with the vaccines! They are poison, money making control agenda! I havent taken any in years and feel healthier than ever. When I was on active duty, I was always getting sick. Why do you think they have a drug for every side effect people get today. Autism, cancer, eczema, etc. Big Pharma doesn’t cure people, they create customers. WAKE UP PEOPLE!

    • Gerry Mitchell August 28, 2025 at 19:10

      I agree for you, stop all vaccines, hang around sick people, don’t wash your hands, and always listen to ransom people on the internet.

  2. pi2r2 August 20, 2025 at 22:48

    shit no, wtf’s the matter with you?

    seems jfkj hasn’t quite gotten to you yet

    you’re sick, hope you get better

    • Jimmy Johns August 21, 2025 at 18:57

      AWAKE…Not to be critical…but ya don’t need vaccines, ya need some psychiatric healthcare !!!

  3. Mark Gall August 20, 2025 at 22:43

    In my family are 2 doctors, and my wife who is a specialist RN (5 years university). Please listen to your doctor about vaccines, not some unknown person here or anywhere else. They may not have any clue what they are writing about. You have already been vaccinated many times without issues, and now is not the time to think that you know more than experts. It’s your health, and you can lose it quickly by ignoring actual medical personell.

  4. Arthur Fishman August 20, 2025 at 22:22

    Therefor the VA is not buying the RFK line that vaccines cause autism and other diseases.
    I like the VA for the professional way they administer the Covid shots.
    I support the people who work at the VA hospital

    • Gerry Mitchell August 28, 2025 at 19:12

      At least those directives at the VA make sense. RFK is so damn goofy.

  5. Lynne August 20, 2025 at 09:47

    Vaccines Make you sicker and can kill your dumb ass

    • SuzyQ August 20, 2025 at 23:30

      Are you being facetious?

  6. John Fitzgerald August 19, 2025 at 17:46

    Did RFK Jr approve this post??? Seems like VA is off message with HHS and the MAHA movement! Why is the government talking out of both sides of the mouth, other than habit of lying to us???

    • Gerry Mitchell August 28, 2025 at 19:14

      Let’s see, trust my doctors or RFK? What a hard decision.

Comments are closed.

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