Coronavirus (COVID-19)

 

 

We'll always be there for you.

For more than 30 years, we’ve been delivering medications to millions of Americans and their families. Our dedicated pharmacists and support teams have always been focused on your health and safety. As COVID-19 disrupts our lives, Express Scripts Pharmacy® is here to make sure you get the medicine you need.

 

 

COVID-19 Vaccinations

The FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization of the first COVID-19 vaccine on December 11, 2020. This marks a significant milestone in the battle against the global pandemic. For most plans, Express Scripts will cover the cost of the vaccine.

Right now, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that vaccinations be available to:

  • Healthcare workers

  • Residents of long-term care facilities

  • Other groups as determined by individual state guidelines

We’re working closely with manufacturers and retail pharmacies as we prepare for increased availability.

Frequently asked questions

How can I get a vaccination?

Follow these steps to get vaccinated at your local pharmacy:

Before you visit the pharmacy…

  • Check with your plan sponsor about vaccine coverage and copayment information, if applicable. Please note, for the COVID-19 vaccines, the cost of the vaccine may be covered at no cost (when using a participating retail pharmacy). Check with your plan sponsor about additional coverage information.
  • Make sure the pharmacy you use is part of your Express Scripts participating pharmacy network. If you’re not sure, log in to express-scripts.com and click Find a Pharmacy from the menu under Prescriptions to find out. You can also use the Express Scripts® mobile app on your digital device to locate a participating pharmacy. Please note, for the COVID-19 vaccines, most pharmacies should be able to administer the vaccine, once widely available. Call your pharmacy before visiting, to ensure the pharmacy is able to administer the COVID-19 vaccines, the pharmacy has vaccines available for administration, and to schedule an appointment if one is required by the pharmacy.
  • Call the pharmacy to verify their current vaccination schedule, vaccine availability, and any age restrictions. Please note, every state has specific regulations regarding age restrictions, which vaccines can be administered by a certified pharmacist, and if a prescription is required. Additionally, COVID-19 vaccine availability may vary due to supply and storage constraints, staffing, and/or other factors.

When you get to the pharmacy…

  • Be sure to present your prescription member ID card at the time of service.
  • Be sure to get your vaccine from the pharmacist at the pharmacy, not from the pharmacy’s on-site clinic.
Which vaccines are covered?

Some of the most common vaccinations like flu vaccines are covered through your prescription plan. Check with your plan sponsor about specific coverage and copayment information.

If flu vaccines are covered, you and all other members covered by your plan can go to a local participating pharmacy to get the flu shot. Please note, every state has specific regulations regarding age restrictions, which vaccines can be administered by a certified pharmacist, and if a prescription is required.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that in the 2018-19 flu season, only about 45% of adults received their flu shot. This year, more than ever, we encourage as many Americans as possible to get the flu vaccine – even those who haven’t been vaccinated in the past – to help in the fight against COVID-19. It’s especially important for pregnant women, older adults, and people with chronic health conditions to get the flu vaccine not just this year, but every year.

Can I get the flu shot at my local pharmacy?

Some of the most common vaccinations like flu vaccines are covered through your prescription plan. Check with your plan sponsor about specific coverage and copayment information.

If flu vaccines are covered, you and all other members covered by your plan can go to a local participating pharmacy to get the flu shot. Please note, every state has specific regulations regarding age restrictions, which vaccines can be administered by a certified pharmacist, and if a prescription is required.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that in the 2018-19 flu season, only about 45% of adults received their flu shot. This year, more than ever, we encourage as many Americans as possible to get the flu vaccine – even those who haven’t been vaccinated in the past – to help in the fight against COVID-19. It’s especially important for pregnant women, older adults, and people with chronic health conditions to get the flu vaccine not just this year, but every year.

Why should I get vaccinated?

Immunizations, more commonly referred to as vaccines, help protect you, your family and friends, and the community from contracting and spreading vaccine-preventable diseases like seasonal flu, whooping cough, measles, shingles, pneumonia, and COVID-19. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we vaccinate not only to protect ourselves and our children from seasonal illnesses like the flu, we vaccinate to protect our future because vaccinations are one of the best ways to put an end to the serious side effects of certain diseases. Additionally, COVID-19 vaccines are one of many important tools to help us take control of this pandemic.

Find out more of what the CDC has to say about the importance of vaccines at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/vaxwithme.html.

Who in my family can get vaccinated at a participating pharmacy?

All members covered by your prescription plan are eligible to receive plan-covered vaccines at a participating pharmacy. Please note, every state has specific regulations regarding age restrictions, which vaccines can be administered by a certified pharmacist, and if a prescription is required. Check with your local network pharmacy for further clarification.

Are COVID-19 vaccines covered?

COVID-19 vaccines are covered through the pharmacy benefit for most plans. Check with your plan sponsor about specific coverage and copayment information.

If COVID-19 vaccines are covered, you and all other members covered by your plan can go to a local participating pharmacy to get the COVID-19 vaccine, once it becomes widely available. Please note, every state has specific regulations regarding age restrictions, which vaccines can be administered by a certified pharmacist, and if a prescription is required. Call your pharmacy before visiting, to ensure the pharmacy is able to administer the COVID-19 vaccines, the pharmacy has vaccines available for administration, and to schedule an appointment if one is required by the pharmacy.

When can I get a COVID-19 vaccine?

On December 11, 2020, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued the first emergency use authorization for the COVID-19 vaccine. It is anticipated that the initial vaccine supply will be limited, and therefore allocated to health care personnel and Long-Term Care (LTC) residents and staff. However, the vaccine supply will increase over time and all adults should be able to be vaccinated in 2021.

How will we know that a COVID-19 vaccine is both safe and effective?

Express Scripts looks to the FDA and CDC to determine if the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Express Scripts will make all FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines available to members, and we will continue to monitor the latest guidance from leading public health organizations to ensure member safety. For more information, visit the CDC’s website.

What are the differences between the leading vaccine candidates?

There are three main platforms that vaccine manufacturers are using to develop COVID-19 vaccines. A central theme is that all vaccine candidates are focusing on developing immunity to the “S protein,” a component of the COVID-19 virus that is critical to allow itself to attach to receptors within our body and infect our cells. By developing vaccines that promote an immune response in our body against this specific protein, the available clinical trial data has shown encouraging results in preventing significant disease and/or transmission. Another difference between the candidates is differing storage requirements which could vary from simple refrigeration to deep freezing.

What is the FDA's Emergency Use Authorization process?

It is likely several vaccine candidates with be submitted for approval utilizing the FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) application. This pathway was originally created after 9/11 to make sure that lifesaving therapies could be available earlier for vulnerable patients.

How will vaccines be distributed?

Initially, hospitals will provide COVID-19 vaccine to health care personnel. As more vaccine is distributed by the federal government, several thousand vaccination providers will be available, including but not limited to doctors’ offices, retail pharmacies, hospitals, and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).

Who gets priority access to the vaccine?

Priorities will be outlined in state planning documents but we expect priority will be given to the most vulnerable, such as nursing home residents, along with frontline health care workers. You may periodically check your State Health Department’s site for updates on who is eligible to receive the vaccine. The CDC provides a link to accredited State Departments of Health here.

Will the vaccine need to be given each year?

At this time, the answer is unclear. Viruses tend to mutate over time, plus we do not yet completely understand how long vaccinations may provide protection from COVID-19 infection. This is a matter that will continue to be studied by the medical and scientific community.

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Standard shipping is included as part of your prescription plan 

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Get up to a 3-month supply of your long-term medicine 

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Express Scripts pharmacists available 24/7 from the privacy and safety of your home 

3 easy ways to get started with home delivery

Online

Log in to your account and easily switch your medication to home delivery

Log In    or    Register

Mobile

Choose home delivery using the Express Scripts® mobile app

Ask your doctor

Ask your doctor to e-prescribe a 3-month supply to Express Scripts Home Delivery

If you’re experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, visit Buoy Health for an easy-to-use, online symptom checker.

Check Symptoms

For more information on coronavirus, please visit the official:

CDC website

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