August 2021
This week, the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine received full FDA approval.
To receive full approval, the vaccine underwent the same careful review all vaccines go through to test its quality, safety and effectiveness. Based on results from the clinical trial involving thousands of participants, the vaccine was proven to be highly effective in preventing COVID-19, and does not cause any serious or long-lasting side effects.
We encourage everyone to get vaccinated as soon as possible, especially as the Delta variant continues to affect more and more people of all ages. See below for more information about where you can receive a COVID-19 vaccine or a COVID-19 test.
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Vaccinate.ok.gov: Oklahoma State Department of Health vaccine registration portal.
Oklahoma State Department of Health:
Pharmacies and Urgent Care Clinics:
COVID-19 Testing:
Tribal Citizens:
Check with your tribe, Indian Health Service and local tribes to see if you are eligible to receive a vaccine through them.
Kids 12 and up are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. As the school year has started back up, we encourage you to provide an extra layer of protection by getting your child vaccinated.
Booking an appointment is easy at vaccinate.ok.gov or you can text your zip code to 438829 (GETVAX). This is also a good time to ensure your child is up-to-date on all their other immunizations!
Are you or someone you know in need of sturdy and long-lasting medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, blood pressure monitors, CPAP machines, hospital beds and more?
Oklahoma ABLE Tech collects gently used equipment and cleans and repairs them to make them like new again through their Device Reuse Program.
Once the equipment is available, it is made available to SoonerCare members only for the first 30 days. After 30 days, the equipment is available to any Oklahoma citizen who submits a request.
To learn more, visit www.okabletech.org/reuse. If you have any gently used equipment you are no longer using and would like to donate, please call ABLE Tech at 405-523-4810 or email atreuse@okstate.edu.
Just hearing the words “head lice” are enough to make you start itching! Luckily, treating head lice is usually quite easy to do! SoonerCare covers over-the-counter lice treatments for children with a prescription. Brand name Natroba® (spinosad) is also covered for children and adults with a prescription. Other prescription lice treatments for children and adults require prior authorization.
The country’s leading pediatricians have written some helpful guidelines for anyone dealing with head lice:
- Children found with lice at school should finish the school day, then be treated, and return to school the next day.
- For children age 2 years or younger, ask your doctor before using any lice treatment.
- For women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask your doctor before using any lice treatment for yourself or applying to another person.
- Follow lice treatment package directions.
- Treatments should only be applied by an adult.
- Keep treatments from getting onto other areas of skin.
- Never put a plastic bag on a child's head while using treatments.
- Do not leave a child alone with lice treatment on the hair.
- Always rinse off the treatment using a sink and warm (not hot) water. DO NOT rinse during a shower or bath.
- Store lice treatment in a locked cabinet, out of sight and reach of children.
- Ask your doctor if you have any questions or if one treatment failed to get rid of lice.
- Do not use home remedies such as petroleum jelly, mayonnaise, margarine, herbal oils or olive oil. They are not proven to work.
- Never use dangerous products like gasoline or kerosene or medicines made for use on animals!
You can feel more comfortable about how to spot, treat and prevent the spread of lice. With these tips, you and your family can easily handle the very common problem of head lice. If you have questions about lice treatment coverage, call the pharmacy help desk at 405-522-6205, option 4, or toll-free at 800-522-0114, option 4.
Quitting tobacco is one of the healthiest choices you can make, but it can feel intimidating at first. Let SoonerCare and the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline help you with your quit journey!
SoonerCare covers all FDA-approved medications to help you quit tobacco. These do not count against the six-prescription limit per month. Learn more here.
The SoonerCare and Insure Oklahoma Facebook and Twitter pages are no longer active. Follow Oklahoma Health Care Authority on Facebook and Twitter for updates, new policies, health tips, helpful resources and more! You can find OHCA's profiles by clicking the links below.
Our vision is for Oklahomans to be healthy and to have access to quality health care services regardless of their ability to pay.
OHCA Core Principles:
Passion for Our Purpose
Empowerment and Accountability
Trust and Transparency
Solution-oriented
Servant Leadership
The Oklahoma Health Care Authority does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in employment or the provision of services.
Please submit any questions, comments or content suggestions to Aaron Askew (aaron.askew@okhca.org) from OHCA's strategic communications office: 405-522-7403.
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