2025-2026 Flu Season: Encourage Members to Protect Themselves

Attention Primary Care Providers:

The 2025-2026 flu season has begun. With ongoing cases of highly contagious respiratory illnesses, it is important to remind patients to protect themselves and their families by getting routine vaccinations. Receiving recommended vaccinations, such as the influenza vaccination, can help prevent unnecessary medical visits and hospitalizations.

This communication provides up-to-date resources to support your practice throughout the season.

Provider Resources

CDC: 2025-2026 Flu Season Overview
2025-2026 Influenza Season: Protecting Your Patients with Effective Prevention, Immunizations, and Trust-Building: Presented by Audrey Voss, Clinical Practice Consultant on September 23, 2025 in TCHP's Provider Advisory Group meeting.
- Providers are encouraged to complete the related polling questions regarding the topic of prevention of influenza and protecting patients.
Childhood Immunization Status (CIS-10) HEDIS measure: CIS-10 measures the percentage of 2-year-olds who received all 10 specific vaccines by their second birthday, including the influenza vaccine.
Respiratory Conditions and Antibiotic Stewardship HEDIS measure: Offers valuable insights and guidelines.
Respiratory Viral Illness Season Resource Kit:Comprehensive materials for patient education.

Key Takeaways

Vaccination Efforts are Vital
- As appropriate, please encourage your patients to protect themselves against respiratory viral illnesses by receiving any recommended vaccinations, such as but not limited to influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus.
- Give patients the opportunity to ask questions and express/address any concerns, especially regarding the safety and efficacy of influenza vaccinations
RSV Information
- Information about RSV season and vaccination can be found in the 2025–26 RSV Season and Synagis Prior Authorization for All State Health Service RegionsProvider Alert.
Antibiotic Utilization for Respiratory Conditions
- Reiterate to patients that antibiotic medication does not effectively treat viral illnesses.
- Reassure patients about their plan of care for respiratory viral illnesses.
Right Care, Right Place, and Right Time
- Educate patients on when and where to seek medical care. Help them recognize true emergencies that require immediate attention versus non-emergency situations.
Patient Education Resources
- Please review and share this helpful link with your patients: https://www.texaschildrenshealthplan.org/your-health/health-conditions-and-treatments/cold-flu-allergies

Symptom Differentiation

For more information, visit https://www.texaschildrenshealthplan.org/your-health/health-conditions-and-treatments/cold-flu-allergies

Thank you for your commitment to caring for and protecting our TCHP members. Your efforts make a significant difference!

Next step for providers: Providers should share this communication with their staff.

If you have any questions, please email Provider Relations at providerrelations@texaschildrens.org.

For access to all provider alerts: www.texaschildrenshealthplan.org/provideralerts.