Vaccines are important for children and adults! Staying up to date with vaccines is the best way to protect yourself and the people close to you from preventable diseases. Alliance members can get the vaccines they need at no cost to them.
Vaccines protect you by:
- Helping your body recognize and fight infections.
- Keeping you from getting very sick, having long-term health problems or dying.
Vaccines for children
It is especially easy for infants and young children to get very sick from some diseases, even from the flu. This can lead to health issues in the future. Children under 5 years old who get the flu are much more likely than adults to have to go to the hospital.
Which vaccines does my child need?
The American Academy of Pediatrics has a recommended immunization schedule for children from birth through 18 years old.
Talk to your child’s doctor about which vaccines your child needs. Keeping your child up to date with vaccines protects them as they grow.
We have an infant wellness map to help you keep up with the vaccines your baby needs from ages 0-12 months. It’s pocket-size so you can take it with you to your baby’s doctor visits. To get an infant wellness map, call our Health Education Line at 800-700-3874, ext. 5580 (TTY: Dial 711).
Children ages 7 to 24 months old who get their two flu vaccine doses between September and May will be entered into a monthly raffle for a $100 Target gift card. For more information about rewards, visit our Health Rewards Program page.
Vaccines for adults
Adults need to keep up to date with their vaccines, too. Vaccines for adults can protect them from:
- Seasonal viruses (like flu, COVID-19 and RSV).
- Diseases that adults might be at risk for (like shingles).
How do I know which vaccines I need?
The American Academy of Family Physicians has an adult immunization schedule. There are vaccines that all adults need, such as a yearly flu vaccine. There are other vaccines that adults should get based on:
- Age.
- Health conditions.
- Job.
- Lifestyle.
- Travel plans.
Talk with your doctor and make sure you and your children get all your vaccines to stay healthy.
If you are a Medi-Cal member and you need help getting health care services, we are here for you! Please call our Member Services team at 800-700-3874, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Alliance Language Assistance Services
The Alliance has language assistance services so that you and your doctor can understand and talk to each other. As an Alliance member, you have the right to these language assistance services at no cost:
- Aids and services to people with disabilities to help them communicate better, such as:
- In-person qualified American Sign Language interpreters.
- Written information in other formats such as large print, audio, accessible electronic formats or other formats.
- Language assistance services for people whose primary language is not English, such as:
- Qualified interpreters, either in-person or over the phone.
- Written information in other languages.
For help with getting an interpreter or written information in your language, please call the Alliance Health Education Line at 800-700-3874, ext. 5580.
If you need language assistance, we have a special telephone line to get an interpreter who speaks your language, available to you at no cost. For the Hearing or Speech Assistance Line, call 800-735-2929 (TTY: Dial 711).
Source for vaccine information: American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
