Least Expensive Flu Shot?

[neatokimmo]

Hi everyone!

My Dd is 2.5 and will need a flu shot this year. We have a high deductible plan so if I go to her regular doc, I'll have to pay an $80 office fee plus the cost of the shot. I am not sure how much a shot is, but I can see it being a $100 venture.

Today I got an email from Walgreens about a $24.99 shot in their store. Are there any other deals or specials out there? Luckily my shot is free at work.

Thanks!

 

[MEM]

Hi everyone!

My Dd is 2.5 and will need a flu shot this year. We have a high deductible plan so if I go to her regular doc, I'll have to pay an $80 office fee plus the cost of the shot. I am not sure how much a shot is, but I can see it being a $100 venture.

Today I got an email from Walgreens about a $24.99 shot in their store. Are there any other deals or specials out there? Luckily my shot is free at work.

Thanks!

Are you sure your ped will charge for an office visit for a flu shot? Mine never did since the doctor never gave the shots personally - a nurse did. We weren't even charged for the shot.

 

[beccasmom]

My physician does not usually charge for shots either since the nurse gives them. No office charge either. Check with them first.

I am lucky also and can get it at work. In fact, I'm getting it tomorrow.

 

[2binak]

We have many flu vaccine clinics in our area at various places like WalMart, CVS, & dr's offices; which are all open to the general public, even the dr's office whether you are a patient of theirs or not. They charge $15-20 for the shot. Keep looking at local papers for announcements about clinics in your area.

 

[Catira]

I had just called my pediatrician to ask how much they were charging for the flu shot. I was told $10 and no office visit charge since it is administered by the nurse.

 

[girli565]

I know CVS has them for $24.95 and I also think Walgreens has then for a similar price.

 

[Green Tea]

Here the CVS pharmay will not give them to children, but Kroger pharmacy will if the child has a prescription from the doctor for one. If your ped charges an office visit, just ask for the script and get it at a flu clinic. One more possibility is the health department. Most vaccines thru them are free, and it is for anyone paid by for your tax dollars, not just for the poor or uninsured.

 

[EvanMaddieMouse]

Call your county's health department. A lot of times they give vaccines for little to no cost, some on a sliding scale. Not sure if they're doing the flu, they may be doing the H1N1 when it becomes available. At any rate, it's worth a call!

 

[CarolAnnB]

Did you check with your doctor specifically? Last year ours had flu shot clinics several times, it was in and out, not an office visit. Ask if yours plans on doing that. I am not sure if retail places will vaccinate a child of 2.5.

 

[tinkarooni]

Hello neatokimmo! Most walk in places I have found won't give the shots to anyone under the age of 18. I agree with the others, call the pediatrician and check, also call your health insurance....they change things all the time and the flu shot this year may be something they cover as preventative with no deductible, the insurance companies would rather pay for the cheap shot than the care if she gets sick. Good Luck!

 

[Ava]

Our pediatrician's office does a flu shot clinic on Saturdays; they don't administer them during normal office hours/visits. I haven't checked into the cost yet because DD won't be old enough to get one until Oct 30th. She has her 6-month ped visit on Nov 2nd so we'll ask about the clinic then, if they have any shots left.

My office is giving flu shots for $10, but they aren't doing it until Oct 19th - is that late? Should I get one elsewhere sooner & skip the office clinic? I've never gotten one before but am doing it this year b/c of DD.

 

[Juliah]

Ditto on checking with your county's health department. I just got mine for $9. But be sure to ask if children are included.

 

[neatokimmo]

Wow thanks for all the info everyone

I will call the doc again, there are several woman that answer the main line, I could get a totally different answer this time.

And I didn't think about them not giving the shot to a kid at a place like Walgreens. I bet you have to sign something.

I will call the health department this afternoon.

About our insurance it is a high deductible plan. They really changed our plans around this year, I would of paid $2,000 extra for the same plan as the previous year. So I gambled and did the high deductible plan. So far I've paid a little under $200 for a doc visit for the baby last winter.

 

[oldbay]

I was able to get my flu shot for free last year at CVS for my then 2 1/2 yo. the insurance covered the cost. (I know this does not help with the cost but whether a child can get a flu shot at CVS - they gave her the kind for babies). I know CVS also has a promotion to get a coupon book too with your flu shot.
You may want to call the local schools too - ours sometimes give them out for free as well.

 

[minnie1928]

I don't understand the comments about not being able to get shots for kids at CVS. Both my kids got theirs at CVS last year.

 

[Green Tea]

Ours will not immunize anyone under 18, even with a script.

 

[pweyl36]

Children uder the age of 3 must get a series of 2 shots, so talk to your ped.

 

[tinkarooni]

I don't understand the comments about not being able to get shots for kids at CVS. Both my kids got theirs at CVS last year.

Maybe it varies by state? I personally called local pharmacies, including CVS and Walgreens, two years ago to try and get flu shots for my DS, one child was high risk and the other didn't get the shot as they feared they would run out....in the end the ped gave it to him anyway....but anywho.....when I called, all the places told me the same thing, they would not give shots to anyone under the age of 18 whether I signed a release had a script or whatever, no doing.

 

[peyton18]

My children are getting their flu shots at Walgreens (I called our local one, they will give them to children). We have a high deductible plan also. I called our pediatrician's office, the shot is $13 but they charge an additional $24 to administer it.

 

[hrslvr142]

Check with your local health dept. Before HMO/PPOs we had to pay out of pocket for all our immunizations for the kids and I would go to our local health dept for their shots which were pretty much free. This was a long time ago but I think here in Indiana it is still pretty much the same.