It's flu season — so when you see your patients, ask if they have gotten the flu vaccine this season. If they haven’t, encourage them to get it by sharing that: 
- The flu vaccine is the safest way to protect them and their loved ones from getting sick and having to miss days from work or school.
- They need to be vaccinated each year because the virus that causes the flu can change from year to year, and protection from the vaccine can wear off over time.
- For patients who are at high-risk, share that the vaccine can help protect them from life-threatening flu-related complications.
During the visit, offer and administer any other vaccines your patients are due for, such as the COVID-19 and pneumococcal vaccines. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recommends everyone six months and older get the updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine. The CDPH emphasizes that it is especially important for protecting higher risk individuals, such as infants, toddlers, people who are pregnant and others with serious disease risks.
The surest way to ensure patients get needed vaccines is by administering them when patients are in your office. If patients don’t want to get vaccinated at that time, encourage them to schedule a visit for their vaccines at another time that works for them.
- If you see patients under 18 years old:
- Ask their parent or guardian if it is possible to schedule siblings during the same visit.
- If the timing is right, schedule visits during times when children are not in school, such as their fall break.
- Let patients 19 years or older know they can also get vaccines at their local pharmacy. They just need to show their HPSM member ID card.
Be sure to share information on how they can avoid catching and spreading viruses, such as:
- Staying home if they’re sick.
- Washing their hands often.
- Avoiding contact with others who are sick.
- Covering their nose and mouth when they sneeze or cough.
- Cleaning surfaces that are touched often.
Thank you for playing a key role in helping our members get vaccinated!
Primary care providers (PCPs) – earn bonus payments in three easy steps:
1. Participate in either of HPSM’s Pay-for-Performance (P4P) programs: Benchmark P4P (legacy program) or Care Gap P4P (administered by Stellar Health).
2. Administer the seasonal influenza vaccine to assigned HPSM Medi-Cal and CareAdvantage members six months and older before March 2026:
- Care Gap P4P – Two influenza vaccines by member’s second birthday; one influenza vaccine for members 19 years and older.
- Benchmark P4P (all tracks) – One influenza vaccine for members six months and older.
3. Earn bonus payments!
For more details, see the program guidelines.