While programs providing for low-cost vaccines for children are common, low-cost vaccine programs for adults are harder to find. To get the vaccine you need at the lowest possible price, you’re going to have to put some legwork into the search.
The CDC keeps a list of current average vaccine costs, which is a great place to start your research.
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Here’s what you need to know about getting low-cost vaccines for adults in the United States.
You’ll Have to Comparison Shop
It’s not always the case that the lowest price for adult vaccines can be found in public or community health clinics. Invest half an hour of time calling vaccination centers in your area to get price quotes.
Before you call, know which vaccines you need so that you can ask for a price quote on each of those vaccines. You can look up which vaccines are recommended for adults on the Center for Disease Control’s adult immunization schedules page.
When comparison shopping vaccination prices, be sure to ask if there are any extra charges to expect in addition to the cost of the vaccine, such as a fee for the office visit.
Some vaccination centers charge an all-inclusive price for each vaccination. Others have a charge for the vaccine itself, a charge for administering the vaccine (injecting the vaccine into your body), an additional charge for the office or clinic visit. These additional charges sometimes cost more than the vaccine.
Some vaccines require a prescription, some don’t. Which vaccines require a prescription varies from state to state.For vaccines that require a prescription, you may get the prescription from yourprimary care physicianor other healthcare provider.
As an alternative, some vaccination centers have aproviderwho can write the prescription, although that service may come at an additional cost. If you don’t have a prescription for the vaccine you want, when you’re comparison shopping, ask if a prescription is required. If it is, ask whether or not that vaccination center has a provider that can write the prescription and how much that would cost.
Here are some other resources for low-cost adult vaccinations:
Local Public Health Department
Most public health departments, also known as county health departments or parish health units, provide adult vaccination services. Some provide them on a sliding-scale fee structure based on your ability to pay, others have a fixed price. Use the “local health centers and state health departments” list onthis government pageto locate your local public health department.
Community Health Centers
Community health centers provide comprehensive, affordable care to people with limited access to health care. In many cases, this includes adult vaccines. Fees are based on your income and ability to pay. Since not all communities have one,check to seeif there is a community health center near you.
Free Clinics
Occasionally, free clinics provide adult vaccinations. However, even if the free clinic near you doesn’t provide free vaccinations, if one of the vaccines you need requires a prescription, the free clinic could be a good place to get that prescription.
Free clinic staff and volunteers usually have a wealth of knowledge about local community resources for low-cost medical services such as adult vaccination centers.
To find the free clinic closest to you, enter your zip code into thefind-a-clinic toolon the website of the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics.
Pharmacies
Many adult vaccines are available through your local pharmacy. Pharmacies can provide vaccines in three common ways:
If you get your vaccine in a retail clinic, you may be charged for the clinic visit in addition to the vaccine.Be sure to ask. However, if you get your vaccine directly from the pharmacist rather than at the retail clinic, you can generally avoid the charge for the clinic visit.
One chain pharmacy deserving a special mention is Costco. You don’t have to be a Costco member to use the pharmacy. Tell the person checking Costco cards at the store entrance that you’re going to the pharmacy. Many adult vaccines are less expensive at Costco than at other chain pharmacies.
Vaccines.gov
Dial 211
If you haven’t had any luck finding low-cost vaccines for adults using the above resources, try calling 211. This service provides referral information on health and social service resources in your local area, making referrals for everything from homeless shelters to vaccine centers.
For example, if your local YMCA hosts a flu-shot clinic each autumn, the people at 211 would know.
Healthcare Provider’s Offices
Some healthcare providers administer common adult vaccines to their patients. But unless you’re already in the healthcare provider’s office dealing with another health issue, this is unlikely to be the lowest-cost option for those without health insurance.
If you choose to get a price quote from your healthcare provider’s office, make sure to inquire about vaccine administration charges and the office visit charge in addition to the cost of the vaccine itself.
Vaccine Manufacturers’ Patient Assistance Programs
While using a pharmaceutical company’s financial aid program, use the brand name of the vaccine rather than the generic or common name to make your web searches easier.
Patient Assistance ProgramsGlaxoSmithKline:GSK Vaccines Access Program1-800‑745‑2967. Assistance is available for Boostrix (Tdap), Shingrix (Zoster), and Rabavert (Rabies).Merck:Merck Vaccine Patient Assistance Program1-800-727-5400.Pfizer:Pfizer RxPathways1-844-989-7284.Sanofi Pasteur:Sanofi Pasteur provides financial aid through thePatient Connection program. Call 1-888-847-4877 for more information.
Patient Assistance Programs
GlaxoSmithKline:GSK Vaccines Access Program1-800‑745‑2967. Assistance is available for Boostrix (Tdap), Shingrix (Zoster), and Rabavert (Rabies).Merck:Merck Vaccine Patient Assistance Program1-800-727-5400.Pfizer:Pfizer RxPathways1-844-989-7284.Sanofi Pasteur:Sanofi Pasteur provides financial aid through thePatient Connection program. Call 1-888-847-4877 for more information.
Health Insurance and Adult Vaccines
If you need several vaccines, especially if some of the vaccines you require are administered in a series of two or three shots over several weeks or months, you could be looking at costs of several hundred dollars or more.
If you don’t have health insurance because you can’t afford it, you may be able toget help paying for health insurance. There arepremium subsidiesavailable to offset the cost of health insurance for people with modest incomes (up to 400% of the poverty level).And even if you enroll in the cheapest plan available in your area (which might have no premium at all, depending on your income), it will fully cover all ACIP recommended vaccines without any deductible, copay, or coinsurance.
In addition to the no-cost vaccines, this health insurance would also cover a full range of recommendedpreventive healthcareservices without requiring deductibles, copays, or coinsurance.
Open enrollmentfor individual market health insurance (in the exchange or outside of the exchange) runs from November 1 to December 15 in most states, with coverage effective the first of the following year. Outside of that window, you’ll need a qualifying event in order to sign up for coverage.
Vaccines and Immunizations
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn MoreHow Vaccines Work
Yes. The United States federal government has paid for all vaccines with tax payer dollars and is making the shots available at no charge for all people living in the United States.Your initial vaccine and a booster are paid for. Some people may also qualify for a second booster.Learn MoreTypes of COVID-19 Vaccines
Yes. The United States federal government has paid for all vaccines with tax payer dollars and is making the shots available at no charge for all people living in the United States.Your initial vaccine and a booster are paid for. Some people may also qualify for a second booster.
Learn MoreTypes of COVID-19 Vaccines
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Current CDC vaccine price list.
Vaccines.gov.Find pharmacies near you.
HRSA Data Warehouse.Find a health center.
Kaiser Health News.Retail clinics add convenience but also hike costs, study finds.
Federal Communications Commission.Dial 211 for essential community services.
Healthcare Finance.Pharmacies can administer vaccines at a lower cost than doctor’s offices and medical clinics, study shows.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vaccine-specific recommendations.
U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.Subsidized coverage.
The Kaiser Family Foundation.How many of the uninsured can purchase a marketplace plan for free in 2020?
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.Immunizations.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19 vaccines.
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