It’s not too late to get your flu shot

Safe care is our mission.

The focus on COVID-19 this past year has taken the spotlight off the seasonal flu. The good news is that steps to prevent the spread of the coronavirus – hand washing, face coverings, and distance – have also led to significantly fewer cases of flu.

Although this news is positive, the reality is that it’s still peak flu season and keeping healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic is more important than ever.

It’s not too late to get your flu shot. Doing so protects yourself, your family and community.

Veterans can contact their local VA medical facility to find out when and where they are offering flu shots.

60,000 pharmacies for no-cost flu shots for Veterans

This year, getting the flu shot is more convenient for Veterans. VA stood up its Community Care Network (CCN), which includes more than 60,000 retail pharmacies and urgent care locations, to provide no-cost flu shots to eligible Veterans across the country and its U.S. territories.

These locations provide easy access to flu shots to Veterans who are eligible and enrolled in VA health care. You do not need an appointment or VA referral. Visit https://www.va.gov/COMMUNITYCARE/flushot.asp for more details.

Visit https://www.va.gov/find-locations to find a local VA medical facility or in-network retail pharmacy or an urgent care facility near you.

Flu shots are safe and protect you against flu. Join the fight against flu. Get your flu shot today.

Learn more

For more information:

• About the seasonal flu, visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
• About coronavirus, visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
• On COVID-19 in older adults: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/older- html
• About the VA Community Care Network flu shots, visit https://www.va.gov/COMMUNITYCARE/flushot.asp

Will Ackerman is a strategic communications specialist for the VA Office of Community Care.