Flu shots from pharmacies

[monkey68]

Has anyone gotten a flu shot at a pharmacy before? I used to get them for free from my school's clinic, but I don't want to drive all the way there for a free flu shot, and I wouldn't be able to make it over there during the clinic hours anyway, so I was thinking of going to the Walgreen's near me. It's only $24.99 for the shot, so the money isn't a huge issue for me. Just wondering what people's experiences were. I really want to get one since I'm rotating through hospitals now, but since I'm not employed by the hospital, I don't qualify to get one through the hospital either.

 

[Donnainnj]

I went and got it at Riteaid one year and it ended up free because we had Aetna insurance. I didn't know that would be the case until I got the forms. The line was long but otherwise uneventful.
Donna

 

[Melisa1]

I got mine at Walgreens 2 days ago and had no problems. You go back to the pharmacy area and fill out 2 small sheets and sign. Then you pay your $24.99 and the pharmacy manager is the person who gave me my shot, I was in and out in 15 minutes!

 

[tluvstink]

Last year I went to the Minute Clinic at CVS and it was great! I plan on doing that again this year.

Terri

 

[Feralpeg]

I got mine at Walgreens yesterday. The only problem was how long it took. Only the pharmacist can give the shot. He was really busy filling prescriptions. He go work filling prescriptions for about 20 minutes and then come out and give about four shots. My sister and I waited for over an hour after we turned in our paperwork and paid. They really weren't staffed to handle it well.

 

[minkydog]

It's the same flu shot that you might get in your doctor's office. Check with your insurance and see if they pay for it at the pharmacy.

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

I get mine at the Minute Clinic in CVS every year. Go at an off time (not lunch or right after everyone gets off work). I usually try to go on a Friday night around 7 (ours closes at 8). Most people have more exciting plans on a Friday night, so they are elsewhere. Since I rarely have exciting plans, it works out fine for me!

 

[Ephany]

I've gotten mine at pharmacies the last three years and haven't had a problem. The only thing is that not all pharmacists are qualified to do immunizations, so I'd call and make sure that the pharmacist on duty where you're planning to go is able to give the shot. I'd also ask when the best time would be to stop by, if there's only one pharmacist on duty they'll also be doing their normal job along with the shots and your wait might be long. My pharmacy (not Walgreens) have specific blocks of times they ask you to stop by when the store is usually less busy so they can try and get you in and out as quickly as possible.

 

[Mouseteacher]

We went to Walgreens yesterday for our shots (DH and DSs). It was quite simple and we were done and on our way in 20 minutes.

This was the first time we went to Walgreens. In the past we did get it from our doctor which is free (insurance coverage). However, every time I called the doctors office in the past week to see if the shot was available, I was told they didn't have it in yet. So, yesterday off we went to Walgreens.

 

[JessicaR]

Anyone know if there is an age restriction at the pharmacies? I'm thinking its cheaper than my doctor co-pay to just go to Walgreen's.

 

[monkey68]

So I went to Walgreen's and came back (the store is around the corner from my house). It took all of about 5 minutes, which is why I'm back home 15 minutes later. They tried to run it through my insurance, but they didn't cover it. So I paid my $25, the pharmacist gave me the shot, and I was on my way. Except she was a young girl, and I think I was her first flu vaccine, since she seemed to be rather nervous. Still, it's pretty hard to screw up an injection, so it wasn't a big deal.

 

[monkey68]

We went to Walgreens yesterday for our shots (DH and DSs). It was quite simple and we were done and on our way in 20 minutes.

This was the first time we went to Walgreens. In the past we did get it from our doctor which is free (insurance coverage). However, every time I called the doctors office in the past week to see if the shot was available, I was told they didn't have it in yet. So, yesterday off we went to Walgreens.

My dad sells medical supplies, and they also supply doctor's offices. They've gotten quite a few orders for the flu vaccine from doctor's offices, but they don't have them yet, which means they can't fill the orders from the doctors. It seems like they first get dispensed to pharmacies and hospitals, and then to physician suppliers who can then supply it to doctor's offices.

 

[golfgal]

Last year I went to the Minute Clinic at CVS and it was great! I plan on doing that again this year.

Terri

We do this too. They process our insurance so we don't pay anything for the shots.