Various immunizations throughout your lifetime can help your body fight disease and protect communities. As you schedule annual checkups with your family doctor, ask whether you’re up-to-date on routine vaccinations.

Vital Vaccinations

Why is vaccination a big deal? On an individual level, some shots – such as tetanus and diphtheria (Td) – are boosters for vaccines you received as a child. You may think you’re still protected, but immunity can wane with time. 

On a community level, vaccination protects people around you who may not be able to receive immunizations. This concept of “herd immunity” means that immunocompromised people – those with cancer or other conditions that tax their immune systems – are safer when people near them can’t spread disease.

What’s New in 2024

• Three new COVID-19 vaccines have been developed for projected variants. Each vaccine – Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Novavax – was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have been engineered to fight KP variants that fueled the summer rise in COVID-19 cases. The Novavax vaccine targets the JN.1 variant, which peaked earlier this year. 

• Influenza vaccines developed for the 2024-25 season are trivalent, which means they offer protection against three different influenza viruses: H1N1, H3N2 and B/Victoria lineage. 

Go Blue to Beat the Flu

U-M is offering free flu shots at drop-in clinics on the Ann Arbor, Michigan Medicine and Dearborn campuses for employees. UM-Flint employees can receive vaccinations at their doctor’s offices, local clinics or network immunizing pharmacies.  

Your Shots are Covered 

U-M’s benefit plans cover preventive vaccinations, so there’s no copay for members. These immunizations are covered under both U-M’s pharmacy and medical plans, which means you can receive your shot at your doctor’s office, local clinic or pharmacy. 

The following vaccines are covered:

• COVID-19

• Influenza

• Hepatitis A and B

• HPV 

• Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)

• Meningococcal

• Polio

• Pneumococcal

• Shingles 

• Tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough

• Varicella (chicken pox)

• RSV 

Keep in mind that some of these immunizations require more than one dose to be most effective. 

All in for Vaccination 

Should you receive these vaccines? Some are dependent on your individual health, while others are recommended at certain ages. Here’s a good conversation starter for your next visit with your family physician. 

Aside from helping protect yourself and others, vaccination:

• Keeps you healthy.

• Keeps you healthy abroad. Certain vaccines are recommended before travel to specific countries. Others may require proof of vaccination before you’re allowed to cross their borders. 

• Decreases unexpected expenses. Medical bills and time off work can put a dent in your household budget.