How To Get Free Or Cheap Flu Shots?

Flu shots are important, especially during winter, to protect you against the influenza virus. If you live in the USA, you might wonder where you can get free or cheap flu shots. We’ve got you covered! All people who are six months and older should get a flu vaccine. There are so many places that offer flu shots, but some of them can be quite expensive. So, here’s how you can get free or cheap flu shots in the USA.

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The Best 5 Places Where You Can Get Free Or Cheap Flu Shots Are Below!

Key Takeaways

• You will get a free flu vaccine if you have health insurance from your doctor, an urgent care center, a pharmacy, the company you work, the university you attend, or a county health department.
• You can get a low-cost vaccine from a pharmacy or county health department if uninsured.
• If uninsured, Costco is the cheapest place to get a flu shot.

Where To Get Free Flu Shots

Your provider must cover the flu vaccine cost if you have health insurance. This includes health care plans through the Affordable Care Act and most private health insurance plans. However, certain health insurance providers have designated facilities where you need to get a flu shot for them to cover the cost.

So be sure to confirm with your health insurance provider before getting a flu shot. Any person can get a flu shot from their primary doctor, an urgent care center, their job, the university they’re enrolled at, or a pharmacy for free if they have health insurance.

Typically, if you don’t have health insurance, you will have to pay for a flu shot. If you cannot find free flu shots, the vaccine can cost from $20 to $85. People 65 years and older need a high-dose flu vaccine and will therefore pay more for the flu shot. Here’s a list of where you can go to get a free or cheap flu shot!

1. Your Doctor Or Urgent Care Centre

You can go to your primary doctor or an urgent care center if you have insurance, with no co-payment, so it will be free for you to get a flu vaccine. However, if you go to your primary care doctor for a consultation, you will need to pay for that if your health insurance does not cover it. Only the flu vaccine itself will be free.

2. The Company You Work At

The company you work for might offer free flu vaccines even without insurance. Many companies have vaccine days where they offer free flu shots to their employees, like a pop-up vaccine clinic. Just check with Human Resources.

3. The University You Are Enrolled At

If you’re enrolled at a university, check with your health center whether they don’t offer flu vaccinations. There are many universities that offer free flu vaccinations to enrolled students. Some universities that offer free flu vaccinations include:

• New York University
• University of Colorado
• University of Chicago
• University of Alabama
• Wake Forest University
• University of Toledo

4. County Health Departments

Many public health departments offer free or low-cost flu vaccinations, like the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the San Francisco Health Department, and the Houston Health Department. Public health departments sometimes offer free flu shots to higher-risk groups of people, like children and senior citizens.

5. Retailers and Pharmacies.

If you have health insurance, a pharmacy usually provides you with a free flu vaccine. Be sure to check with your health insurance provider if they don’t have requirements regarding where you can get a free flu shot.

Costco offers a flu vaccine for $19.99 for members. Suppose you’re not a member; you might pay a bit more. People 65 years and older pay $46.99 for a high-dose flu vaccine. If you’re a member of Sam’s Club, you can get a flu vaccine for $19.99, while people 65 years and older pay $48.99 for a high-dose flu shot. If you’re not a member, the prices are higher.

Meijer provides flu vaccines at $37.99 (with a GoodRx discount, you can pay $33) and $82.62 if you’re 65 years or older (with a GoodRx discount, you can pay $68.76.

CVS pharmacy offers flu vaccines for $40.99 for people under the age of 65. If you’re 65 years or older, the price is $73.99. Sometimes they give $5 coupons if you get a flu shot. They only offer these rewards for a limited time, so be sure to check beforehand if you can’t get a coupon. This reward is only available in certain states and not in New York, New Jersey, and Arkansas.

Target offers flu shots for the same price as CVS pharmacy. Walgreens offers a 20 percent discount on the flu vaccine if you are a member of their Prescription Savings Club. You will have to pay $43.99 for a flu shot and $81.49 for people who are 65 years and older. They only offer flu shots to people three years and older.

Rite Aid has flu shots available for $44 and $85 for people 65 years and older. Unfortunately, they don’t offer any discounts.

Walmart offers a flu vaccine for $42 and $76.50 for people 65 years and older. They also don’t offer any discounts. Safeway has flu shots for $47.99 ($32 with GoodRx discount) and $85.99 for people 65 years and older ($62 with GoodRx discount).

Kroger’s flu shots are the most expensive on the list at $65 and $85 for people 65 and older. The store does not offer any discounts. Publix offers flu shots for $52 and $180 for people 65 and older. Thus, Costco and Sam’s Club are the cheapest places to go for a flu vaccine.

Related Questions

Why Are Flu Shots So Important?

Getting a flu vaccine can reduce the severity of the flu if you contract it. It doesn’t necessarily provide complete protection, but if you get the shot and do indeed get the flu, your symptoms will not be as severe.

Are There Different Types Of Flu Shots?

Yes. There are also different flu vaccine manufacturers. Different flu vaccines include quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine, recombinant influenza vaccine, and live attenuated influenza vaccine. All of them are effective, and any one of them recommend for use.

What Are The Side Effects Of The Flu Shot?

You can experience mild flu symptoms after getting the flu vaccine, such as a mild fever, headache, or nausea. These side effects or symptoms will generally go away after one or two days.