Fall 2023 Vaccine Updates
COVID VACCINES
Due to the current distribution policies from the MA Department of Public Health, Synergy will not able to obtain or provide COVID vaccines at this time. We advise our members to obtain the updated COVID vaccine at your local pharmacy. Please view COVID FAQS below for further information; for additional questions, please reach out to our clinical team.
FAQS / Key information:
Updated COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for everyone 6 months and older
The updated vaccines should work well against currently circulating variants of COVID-19, including BA.2.86, and continue to be the best way to protect yourself against severe disease.
The benefits of COVID-19 vaccination continue to outweigh potential risks; serious reactions after COVID-19 vaccination are rare.
The vaccines are covered by insurance including private insurance, Medicare plans, and Medicaid plans. (Uninsured children and uninsured adults also have access through the Vaccine for Children Program and Bridge Access Program, respectively).
In most cases, we advise that patients consider delaying the vaccine 3 months from a previous COVID infection as reinfection during this time period is less likely. Of note, if you have certain risk factors for severe COVID illness, this should be considered to determine if it is appropriate to get the vaccine sooner after recent infection (but a minimum of two weeks post infection is necessary).
Patients should wait two months from prior booster dose (a.k.a. the old booster) to get this new updated booster.
There are certain patient populations for whom a second dose of the updated vaccine is recommended:
People aged 65 years and older may get 1 additional dose of the newest COVID-19 vaccine 4 or more months after they received their 1st updated vaccine.
People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may get 1 additional dose of updated COVID-19 vaccine 2 or more months after the last updated COVID-19 vaccine. (Talk to your physician about additional updated doses.)
See below for recommended locations to obtain the newest COVID vaccine
FLU VACCINES
Seasonal flu vaccines for 2023-2024 season have arrived at Synergy. We have both the high dose and standard dose (preservative-free) varieties in stock. We encourage all members to obtain this vaccine either with us or at another convenient location.
RSV VACCINES
Synergy does not carry the new RSV vaccine which is a single dose vaccine available for adults 60 and older. This vaccine may be appropriate for some patients over 60, particularly those who have certain underlying medical conditions and risk factors that increase their risk for more severe RSV-associated illness. Your physician can help you decide whether the RSV vaccine is appropriate for you; if vaccination is indicated, it should be obtained via your local pharmacy.
PHARMACIES / VACCINE APPOINTMENT LOCATIONS
Here is a list of pharmacies with online scheduling for vaccines:
CVS Pharmacy online scheduling:
https://www.cvs.com/vaccine/intake/store/schedule-options
Walgreens Pharmacy online scheduling:
https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/schedule-vaccine
Union Pharmacy online scheduling:
*No appointments required, but strongly encouraged *
https://unionrxs.com/covid-19-vaccine-appointments/
V-Care Pharmacy online scheduling:
https://myvcarepharmacy.com/covid-19/
Gary Pharmacy (Downtown Residents) online scheduling:
https://hipaa.jotform.com/213335558845160
Birds Hill Pharmacy* takes walk-in appointments but does not have a scheduling system online
We hope this information is helpful to our members. Kindly contact our team via phone, email, or via your Patient Gateway account with any questions.