Give It a Shot
Peak time for seasonal flu in the United States generally falls in January or February, but activity can erupt as early as October. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone over six months get a flu shot, and with the coronavirus pandemic still in the mix, it's more important than ever to prepare for flu season. When scheduling your shot, you probably have a few questions: Will it hurt? Can I get it at Costco? What does a Walgreens flu shot cost without insurance?
Under the Affordable Care Act, all marketplace insurance plans must cover the cost of the vaccine — although some set limitations on where free flu shots are administered. Free flu shots are also available under Medicare and many other health plans. But getting a flu shot without insurance at a doctor's office or health center can be costly, and cheaper trivalent vaccines have all but disappeared in favor of quadrivalent vaccines, which protect against four strains of influenza instead of three.
To find the cheapest place to get a flu shot — as well as which retailers are administering flu shots — Cheapism checked vaccine prices at some of the country's largest pharmacy chains. We also checked prices at Costco and Sam's Club, which are known for low prices and allow non-members to use their pharmacies. Note that prices, services, and availability may vary by location.