Medicare.gov

Flu shots

If you’re 65 or older, you have a higher risk of getting sick from respiratory viruses like the flu, COVID-19, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Vaccines are a safe way to protect yourself from serious complications and hospital visits. This flu season, it's important to get your flu, COVID-19, and RSV shots. 

•    Ask your health care provider or pharmacist about getting other vaccines. It's safe to get the flu shot with other vaccines like the COVID-19 vaccine and RSV shot.
•    Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
•    Wash your hands and clean surfaces you touch often.

The flu shot protects you from getting the flu and keeps you from spreading it to others.

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers the seasonal flu shot (or vaccine) once per flu season and additional flu shots if it’s medically necessary.

Trivalent flu shots

This 2024-2025 flu season you can get a trivalent flu shot that protects against 3 different flu viruses. People 65 and older can get a trivalent flu shot to lower the risk of hospital visits and death. The trivalent vaccine is safe and effective. Get more details about the vaccine.

Your costs in Original Medicare

You pay nothing for a flu shot if your doctor or other health care provider accepts assignment for giving you the shot. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, contact your plan for details.

Things to know

Frequency of services

Your doctor or other health care provider may recommend you get services more often than Medicare covers. Or, they may recommend services that Medicare doesn’t cover. If this happens, you may have to pay some or all of the costs. Ask questions so you understand why your doctor is recommending certain services and if, or how much, Medicare will pay for them.

Related resources

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