Protect your patients: Providers’ powerful influence over influenza prevention

Date: 09/22/25

Your recommendation is the most powerful antidote to vaccine hesitancy and is pivotal in protecting your patients against influenza. While you encourage vaccinations, remind patients that Illinois hospital admissions and emergency department visits for the flu reached their highest levels in recent history during last year’s respiratory disease season.

“The strong link between trust in one’s primary care provider and vaccination rates is undeniable,” says Jeffrey Rosenbaum, DO, MHSA, CPE, Meridian medical director. “With an intentional focus at both a practice level and individual level, our providers can meaningfully reduce the public health impact of the flu.”

All flu vaccines for the 2025-2026 season will be trivalent vaccines, designed to protect against three different influenza viruses, including two influenza A viruses and an influenza B/Victoria virus.

Before talking with your patients

Create standing orders so that nurses, medical assistants, and other practitioners can vaccinate patients
Add reminders and follow-ups in patients’ EMR
Have clinic staff ask, “May we give you your flu vaccine before the doctor sees you, or would you prefer to wait until after your visit?” (Avoid the option of deferring the vaccine until a later visit.)

Talking with your patients

A strong, declarative statement that your patient is due for a flu vaccine, followed by safety information, decreases vaccine hesitancy
Offer to complete the vaccination before the end of their visit. If a patient doesn’t get the flu shot then, there’s a good chance they won’t get it.
Immediately reschedule the patient’s flu vaccination if it cannot be completed that day, and have staff follow up
Remind patients that they may be eligible for rewards by receiving the flu shot

Discuss why vaccination matters—and be prepared with the facts

Remind patients that the flu vaccine protects them and those around them: Phrases such as “If not for you—them!” are proven to be effective motivators
Emphasize the reduced likelihood of severe illness and hospitalization: Statistics compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) convey the clear benefits:
- Vaccinated adults had an 82% reduced risk of being admitted to an ICU with flu, according to a 2018 study
- Vaccinated children had a 75% reduced risk of severe, life-threatening influenza, according to a 2022 study
- Vaccinated pregnant mothers were 40% less likely to be hospitalized, according to a 2018 study; several studies find that vaccination protects babies from the flu several months after birth, when they are too young to be vaccinated.
Age, health status, risk factors, or comorbidities affect the risk of serious flu complications: Research shows the risk of complications associated with chronic lung disease, diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions can be reduced
Reinforce flu vaccine safety: Hundreds of millions of Americans have safely received flu vaccines for more than 50 years. Vaccine safety monitoring systems and a massive body of scientific evidence overwhelmingly support their safety.
The flu season has been especially serious in recent years: Illinois hospital admissions and emergency department visits for influenza reached their highest levels in recent history during the 2024-2025 season, according to data from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)

Influenza resources and references

2025-2026 Influenza Vaccines*

Vaccine	Age Ranges	Indication	Status	Billing
FluMist	Age 2-49 years	Active immunization for the prevention of influenza disease caused by influenza virus subtypes A and type B contained in the vaccine	Preferred	Pharmacy or Medical Benefits
Fluarix	Age ≥ 6 months
FluLaval	Age ≥ 6 months
Flublok	Age ≥ 9 years
Fluzone	Age ≥ 9 years
Fluzone High- Dose	Age ≥ 65 years old	Active immunization for the prevention of disease caused by influenza A subtype viruses and type B virus
Afluria	Age ≥ 6 months
Fluad	Age ≥ 65 years old
Flucelvax	Age ≥ 6 months

*Reference: Influenza Vaccine Products for the 2025–2026 Influenza Season.

2025 Member Flu Vaccination Rewards

PLAN	ACTIVITY	REWARD VALUE	FREQUENCY	REWARD TYPE
Meridian	Flu vaccine (children under 2)	$25	Annual	Prepaid card
YouthCare	Flu vaccine (children under 2)	$25	Annual	Prepaid card
WellCare	Annual Flu vaccine	50 points	Annual	Points accumulate toward a monetary award