Page 20 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, April 5, 2024 avvya yavvy eniiooravvy S iorn or v y io iori by Jim Miller Recommended Vaccines for Medicare Recipients Dear Savvy Senior, My husband and I recently turned 65 and would like to fi nd out which vaccines are recommended and covered by Medicare? New Benefi ciaries Dear New, All recommended vaccines for adults, age 65 and older, should be covered by either Medicare Part B or Part D, but there are some coverage challenges you should be aware of. Here’s a rundown of which vaccines are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and how Medicare covers them. Covid-19: Even though Covid-19 is no longer a public health emergency, it can still cause severe illness, particularly in older adults. Because the Covid virus continues to mutate, new vaccines are being developed to keep pace, so the CDC recommends that all seniors stay up to date with the latest Covid vaccines, including booster shots. All Covid-19 shots are covered 100 percent by Medicare Part B. Flu: Considered an annual vaccination, most people of all ages receive fl u shots in the fall when fl u season begins. The CDC recommends seniors, 65 and older get a high-dose fl u shot for extra protection beyond what a standard fl u shot off ers. The Fluzone High Dose Quadrivalent, FLUAD Quadrivalent and FluBlok Quadrivalent are your three options. Annual fl u shots are covered under Medicare Part B. Pneumonia: These vaccines help protect against pneumococcal disease, which can cause pneumonia, meningitis and other infections. The CDC recommends everyone 65 and older get a pneumococcal vaccine. There are several diff erent vaccine options available, so talk to your doctor or pharmacists to fi nd out which is best for you or visit the CDC’s Pneumococcal Vaccination webpage at CDC.gov/vaccines/vpd/pneumo/public/index.html. Medicare Part B covers both single dose and two-dose pneumococcal shots once in your lifetime. Shingles: Caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox, shingles is a painful, blistering skin rash that aff ects more than 1 million Americans every year. All people over age 50 are recommended to get the two-dose Shingrix vaccine, which is given two to six months apart, even if you previously received Zostavax. In 2020, Shingrix replaced Zostavax, which is no longer available in the U.S. All Medicare Part D prescription drug plans cover shingles vaccinations, but coverage amounts, and reimbursement rules vary depending on where the shot is given. Check your plan. Tdap: Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough) are diseases caused by bacteria that can lead to serious illness and death. Therefore, a one-time dose of the Tdap vaccine is recommended to all adults. If you’ve already had a Tdap shot, you should get a tetanus-diphtheria (Td) booster shot every 10 years. All Medicare Part D plans cover these vaccinations. RSV: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can lead to pneumonia or bronchiolitis and can worsen other chronic conditions common among older adults, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The CDC recommends all adults, age 60 and older, talk to their doctor about getting one of the RSV vaccines (either Arexvy or Abrysvo), usually in the fall and winter months when the virus is most prevalent. Most Medicare Part D plans cover the RSV vaccine, but not all. If your plan doesn’t cover it, you can ask for a coverage exception. You can also pay for the shot out of pocket and then follow-up with your plan to get reimbursed. If you pay for the shot upfront, your plan must pay you back. Other Vaccinations There are other vaccines you may need depending on your health, lifestyle or travel plans. To help you get a handle on which ones are appropriate for you, take the CDC’s What Vaccines Do You Need? quiz at www2.cdc.gov/nip/adultimmsched. Also, talk to your doctor during your next visit about what vaccinations you should get. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. OBITUARY Carl Ryan Of Malden, formerly of North Reading. Passed away on March 28, 2024, at the age of 97. Beloved husband of the late Jean A. (O'Brien) Ryan. Loving father of Carl Ryan, Jr. and his wife, Ana; beloved grandfather of Jeanne Ryan; and numerous nieces and nephews. His Funeral will be held on Saturday, April 6, at 10:30 AM, at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow St., North Reading. Visitation on Friday, April 5, from 6 to 8 PM. Interment in Oak Grove Cemetery in Medford. Carl was a U.S. Navy Veteran of WWII and an Ironworker for many years. For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 617-387-2200 or Info@advocatenews.net City of Malden Massachusetts Board of Appeal 215 Pleasant Street, Malden, Massachusetts Telephone 781-397-7000 x2161 MALDEN BOARD OF APPEAL PUBLIC HEARING The Malden Board of Appeal will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 6:30 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada) at Malden City Hall, 215 Pleasant St, Room #106 Herbert L Jackson Council Chambers, Malden, MA on Petition 24-002 by Mystic Valley Regional Charter School seeking an appeal under Code of the City of Malden as amended – Title 12 Section 12.32.040 (A) (3) to hear and decide appeals of decisions made by the Inspector of Buildings or other administrative official - Specifically Title 12 Section 12.12.030 of Chapter 12 of the City of Malden Revised Ordinances of 2020 as amended – Namely property used as a Parking Facility, Offsite at the property known as and numbered 12-24 Lebanon Street, Malden, MA and also known by City Assessor’s Parcel ID #134-654-421 Additional information, Petition & plans available for public review in the Office of Inspectional Services, 215 Pleasant St., 3rd floor, Malden MA or online at www.cityofmalden.org or https://maldenma-energovweb.tylerhost.net/apps/SelfService#/home Nathaniel Cramer, Chair March 29, April 5, 2024 City of Malden Massachusetts Board of Appeal 215 Pleasant Street, Malden, Massachusetts Telephone 781-397-7000 x2161 MALDEN BOARD OF APPEAL PUBLIC HEARING The Malden Board of Appeal will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 6:30 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada) at Malden City Hall, 215 Pleasant St, Room #106 Herbert L Jackson Council Chambers, Malden, MA on Petition 24-005 by Ben Nie seeking a variance under Code of the City of Malden as amended – Title 12 MCC 12.16.010 Table of Intensity Regulations – Specifically: violation of Rear Yard Setback and Coverage, Principal Building - as per Plans Res-062441-2023 at the property known as and numbered 48 Wyoming Ave., Malden, MA and also known by City Assessor’s Parcel ID #010-073-315 Additional information, Petition & plans available for public review in the Office of Inspectional Services, 215 Pleasant St., 3rd floor, Malden MA or online at www.cityofmalden.org or https://maldenma-energovweb.tylerhost.net/apps/SelfService#/home Nathaniel Cramer, Chair March 29, April 5, 2024
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