20 December 2022 - - As winter nears, US-based health care solutions provider AmeriHealth Caritas stresses the importance of being current with age-appropriate COVID-19 vaccinations as recommended by the CDC, including the new bivalent boosters, which offer protection against Omicron variants.

AmeriHealth Caritas has worked to facilitate vaccine accessibility from adults to the Medicaid managed care organization's youngest members.

The organization and its respective plans have orchestrated efforts across plans to create better vaccine access for all individuals, including partnering with local governments to use AmeriHealth Caritas locations as vaccination sites and hosting COVID-19 vaccination events within local communities.

The FDA-authorized bivalent boosters include protection from Omicron subvariants, BA.4 and BA.5, and are available for children as young as six months old. 

Bivalent boosters are approved for all children ages six months and up, regardless of which company manufactured their primary vaccine series.

AmeriHealth Caritas encourages everyone to ask their COVID-19 vaccine provider or pharmacist which kind of vaccine and how many doses they and their family members will need especially as recommendations continue to adjust.

For infants and children who are moderately or severely immunocompromised or have unique conditions, it is best to speak with their provider for specific vaccination guidance.

The CDC website states that COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are safe to administer at the same time as flu or other vaccines, reducing the travel and appointment burden for families. 

Annual flu shots are available for children as young as six months and can be received anytime through the winter during the flu season.

AmeriHealth Caritas operates in 12 states and the District of Columbia.

AmeriHealth Caritas serves approximately 5m Medicaid, Medicare, Children's Health Insurance Program, and Health Insurance Marketplace members through its integrated managed care products, pharmaceutical benefit management and specialty pharmacy services, and behavioral health services.

Headquartered in Pennsylvania, AmeriHealth Caritas is a mission-driven organization with nearly 40 years of experience serving low-income and chronically ill populations.