Important immunizations at your pharmacy may be free

It’s easier and less expensive to prevent a disease than to treat one. Immunizations protect you from serious diseases and prevent the spread to others. Did you know that many Octave Blue Cross and Blue Shield members can get immunized at the local pharmacy for no cost? It’s all part of your coverage.¹ It won’t cost you a thing.

As a member of Octave Blue Cross, you get many important immunizations at your local in-network pharmacy for no cost.

Here's how it works:

1. Check the list of vaccines below

Vaccine	Children	Adults	In Pharmacy
COVID-19 vaccinations & booster shots2	✔ covered	✔ covered	✔ covered
Haemophilus Influenzae Type b (Hib)	✔ covered	✔ not covered	Age 5+covered
Hepatitis A	✔ covered	✔ covered	✔ covered
Hepatitis B	✔ covered	✔ covered	✔ covered
Herpes Zoster / Shingles	not covered	✔ covered	✔ covered
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)	✔ covered	✔ covered	✔ covered
Inactivated Poliovirus (Polio)	✔ covered	✔ covered	Age 7+ covered
Influenza (Flu)2	✔ covered	✔ covered	✔ covered
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)	✔ covered	✔ covered	✔ covered
Meningococcal	✔ covered	✔ covered	✔ covered
Pneumococcal	✔ covered	✔ covered	Adults only covered
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)	✔not covered	✔not covered	Adults onlycovered
Rotavirus	✔ covered	not covered	not covered
DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis)	✔covered
Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) OR Td (tetanus and diphtheria)	✔ covered	✔covered	Age 7+
Varicella (chickenpox)	✔ covered	✔ covered	✔ covered

2. Go to your local in-network pharmacy
3. Tell the pharmacist what immunization you need
4. Wait while the pharmacist runs the claim
5. Get immunized²

To avoid paying out of pocket, make sure:

• You visit an in-network pharmacy
• Check the immunization is covered under your prescription drug plan by having the pharmacist run the claim before you get the immunization

If you’re asked to pay for the immunization yourself and be reimbursed from us — not only is that inconvenient, it may not be covered.

And remember, when you get an immunization, you’re not just looking out for your own health. You’re helping prevent the spread of disease to others.

¹ This benefit does not include our members with Medicare health plans. Always check your plan benefits.

² All pharmacists and pharmacy technicians under the supervision of a pharmacist in Arkansas can vaccinate for flu and COVID for ages three and up. 

³Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians under the supervision of a pharmacist in Arkansas can vaccinate children age seven and older. Those between the ages of 7 and 18 may require a prescription from a physician for all immunizations except for the seasonal flu shot and COVID.