The Cost Of A Flu Shot Without Insurance
The average cost of a high-dose flu shot without insurance is typically around $70. The CDC private sector cost for a quadrivalent flu shot ranges from $16.94 to $25.76. However, the price you pay may be higher at some locations due to additional fees.
See the chart below for prices at major pharmacies such as CVS, Walmart, Rite Aid, Costco, and Walgreens. If you have not gotten vaccinated this flu season, it is recommended that you get the flu shot as soon as possible.
Vaccinating Kids Is Key To Ending The Pandemic
McNew said he wished he had an “optimistic projection on when this whole COVID nightmare will end.”
“But at this point, the only way to get that to a close is to help protect the rest of our population who isn’t immunized and prevent the spread from all angles,” McNew said.
While kids aren’t the majority of patients testing positive for COVID-19 at McFarland Clinic, “it’s still happening,” he said.
“What frustrates me is that some kids who are right now testing positive have been to school for the last two to three weeks and not wearing masks, and they’ve shared that COVID experience with the other members of the classroom,” McNew said. “The best thing that we can do as a community is to protect ourselves so we can protect each other.”
What’s The Best Way To Protect Yourself From The Flu
Video transcript
Its important to get the flu shot every year. The flu shot protects you against the flu virus.
It can help you prevent a hospitalization or complications of actually getting the flu.
It is very easy to find a local pharmacy or your providers office. Its offered in multiple, multiple locations.
Not only that, its also covered at 100% in most plans.
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N95 Masks Arrive As Iowa Polk County Face Another Wave Of Disease
On Tuesday, Polk County reported the highest seven-day positivity rate since the start of the pandemic, with more than one-in-three reported COVID-19 tests coming back positive. On average, 888 positive tests have been reported daily this month, Polk County Supervisor Angela Connolly said.
The vast majority of COVID-19 positive patients in intensive care units in Polk County hospitals are unvaccinated, she said, a trend that matches state and national cases. The strain of those and non-ICU cases on hospital staffs are “challenging our hospitals’ ability to provide optimal care,” she said.
“That unvaccinated individual is taking away from your parent, your brother, your sister, and your friend who may have suffered from a heart attack or another life threatening health concern and needs medical care,” she said.
Polk County is opening a free testing clinic, with both rapid tests and the more precise PCR tests at its Polk County River Place facility at 2309 Euclid Ave. in Des Moines. Polk County Health Director Helen Eddy said they hope to divert people wanting a test from hospitals and doctor’s offices and ease that burden some.
Get Discounted Flu Shots Near You
All prices include the administration fee.
Prices valid as of September 2021, and subject to change without notice.
If you happen to bring in a coupon for one vaccine, and your pharmacist recommends another, dont worry! Your pharmacist can use your coupon to pull up all of the different flu shot prices offered through GoodRx at their pharmacy if they are part of the GoodRx Flu Vaccine Program.
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The Cost Of A Flu Shot At Major Pharmacies
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- American Indian
- Alaska Native
Vaccines provided by VFC are free, but there may be an administration or office-visit fee. Contact your local VFC coordinator to find doctors who work with the program. Or, you can visit a public health clinic, federally qualified health center, or rural health clinic to get vaccines through VFC.
How Do I Find A Drive
If you have health insurance, the first place youll want to check for a drive-through flu shot clinic is on your plans website. Many health groups and insurance plans are offering their own drive-through clinics this year. Examples include:
You can also call your local pharmacy to ask if they are offering drive-through or curbside flu shots. Hy-Vee, for example, is offering drive-through flu shots this year on certain days through October 30.
Many county health departments are offering drive-through clinics, as well. These are often where you can find free or discounted flu shots if you dont have health insurance. Check your county health departments website for more information.
Lastly, some clinics are promoting their drive-throughs on the news, so watch for announcements on your local news station or in your local newspaper. You can also search for drive through flu shot near me online to find drive-throughs in your area.
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Free N95 Masks Pop Up At Hy
Free N95 masks are now available at some Hy-Vee locations in the Des Moines metro, with availability at every Hy-Vee expected Wednesday.
The masks are considered highly effective at filtering out airborne particles, including droplets from people infected with COVID-19. Health care officials recommend them over cloth masks to combat the highly infectious omicron variant that is slamming much of the nation.
The Biden administration announced last week it would distribute 400 million of the high-grade masks across the country. A Walgreens spokesperson told the Washington Post they expect their locations to have the free masks available at the end of the week. A CVS in Beaverdale posted a sign asking customers to check back on Friday for the new layer of protection.
From USA TODAY: Free N95 masks are on the way to store pharmacies. Here’s when you can pick them up.
Clerks working at the Hy-Vee on Court Avenue and at 3330 Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway confirmed the N95s were available at their stores Tuesday morning, though a clerks at a few other stores said their stock hadn’t yet arrived.
The Hy-Vee at Mills Civic Parkway was among the first stores in the nation to receive its share of the 400 million masks. It received and started distributing the masks last Friday, company spokesperson Christina Gayman said. She expects all 275 Hy-Vee Pharmacies across the Midwest to have the masks and start distributing them Wednesday. There will be “plenty of supply,” she said.
In Addition To Finding Drive
Getting vaccinated is the most important thing you can do to protect yourself and your family from the flu. But just as with COVID-19, you can take basic steps to further avoid picking up or passing germs to others. You can remember these as the 3Ws:
Wear a face mask.
Watch your distance.
Wash your hands often.
Though its possible to get the flu and COVID-19 at the same time, we dont have a clear understanding of how both could affect a persons health. The combination of flu and coronavirus could prove to be very challenging for people with a higher risk of getting serious complications from respiratory illnesses. A bad flu season on top of COVID-19 could also impact our available healthcare resources and increase the number of people who get sick and die. Make plans to get your flu shot and spread the word.
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Prescription Savings Clubs Or Cards
Prescription Savings Clubs or Cards are accessible through several pharmacies, including Walgreens, Kroeger, CVS, Rite Aid, and more. At Walgreens, anyone is eligible to sign up for this savings method, regardless of whether they have insurance or not. It’s important to know that the membership can only be used with cash purchases and provides up to a 20% discount on vaccines. Bonuses and points can be accumulated to spend on other products at the pharmacy.
A Slot Machine In Las Vegas Malfunctioned And Didn’t Tell A Tourist He Won The Gaming Board Tracked Him Down
A tourist in Las Vegas hit the jackpot on a slot machine last month, but he was never informed due to a malfunction in the machine, according to gaming officials.
Now after an exhaustive search, the Nevada Gaming Control Board says they have identified the winner of the nearly $230,000 prize.
On January 8, a man, later identified by officials as Robert Taylor, played a slot machine at Treasure Island Hotel and Casino. Due to a communications error, according to gaming officials, the slot machine malfunctioned and didn’t notify Taylor or casino personnel that he was a winner.
To identify the winner, gaming officials combed through hours of surveillance videos from several casinos, interviewed witnesses, shifted through electronic purchase records and even analyzed ride share data provided by the Nevada Transportation Authority and a rideshare company, according to a news release.
The jackpot winner was determined to be Taylor, a tourist from Arizona.
“The Nevada Gaming Control Board is charged with the strict regulation of the gaming industry, the protection of the gaming public, and ensuring that the industry benefits the State of Nevada,” said James Taylor, chief of the board’s enforcement division, in the news release.
Robert Taylor was already back home when he was notified of his winnings last week, according to the release. Gaming officials said that he will return to Vegas to collect his overdue prize.
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No Appointment Needed For Flu Shots At Hy
- Mike Bunge
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa Hy-Vee pharmacies are now offering flu shots with no appointment necessary.
The grocery chain says drive-thru flu clinics will also be offered through October 30 at the companys 275 pharmacy locations across eight states. Those flu clinics will be from 3 to 7 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 10 am to 2 pm on Saturdays.
Hy-Vee says its pharmacists conduct a screening process prior to vaccination to ensure each individual is receiving the most beneficial flu vaccine for their health. Medicare and most insurance plans cover the flu vaccine and other immunizations at no charge. Hy-Vee says all vaccine patients must wear a mask during their vaccination, according to CDC guidelines.
Currently, flu vaccines are available without a prescription during regular pharmacy hours to patients 6 months and older at Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota locations or 3 years and older in Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin locations, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services PREP Act.
No One Likes Getting Sick
And the flu virus changes every year. So, getting a yearly shot helps protect yourself and those around you. Plus, its available at no cost to you. And getting your flu shot may actually earn you rewards.
The flu shot is a good idea for just about everyone. But these people are at an even higher risk of health problems from the flu:
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Some Unvaccinated Children Are Fighting Severe Long Covid Symptoms
Between Christmas Eve and Jan. 18, the most recent day available, 183 children have been admitted to Iowa’s hospitals with COVID-19.
At Blank Children’s Hospital, doctors have seen a 300% increase in children that need to be hospitalized over the past month, Dr. Joel Waddell, an infectious disease specialist there, said.
That aligns with when omicron became the predominant strain of coronavirus in the state. Waddell expects that month-over-month increase to hit 400% by the end of the month.
About 94% of the children are not vaccinated against COVID-19, he said. While some are not old enough for the vaccines, many are not. The vaccination has been approved for people five and older.
The virus has hit some of the infants and children severely enough that they’ve needed to be placed on ventilators. While many children who contract COVID-19 have mild symptoms, Waddell said, not all are so lucky.
Beyond children so sick they need to be hospitalized, others suffer other forms of long COVID. Those symptoms can include daily “debilitating headaches, debilitating fatigue, often debilitating shortness of breath when walking of stairs, and frequent and constant dizziness,” he said.
“This is hard to watch because it lasts for months, and some over a year,” Waddell said. “It’s like a year of their high school life has been stolen from them.”
Us Can Expect Flu To Come Back With A Vengeance This Winter
- Alexandra Dederer
ROCHESTER, Minn. – Medical professionals continue to urge people to receive the influenza vaccine as winter approaches.
Hy-Vee is offering the flu vaccine at all their pharmacy locations with no appointment necessary, both in their store pharmacies and through drive-thru clinics.
The flu vaccine not only decreases the risk of contracting the virus but also decreases flu symptoms and the length of the virus if it is contracted.
Due to last year’s COVID regulations of masking and social distancing, the U.S. saw a much smaller flu season.
Hy-Vee Chief Medical Officer Dr. Daniel Fick is not as hopeful for this year.
“I because we are not doing those things to the extent we were, we can expect flu to be back with a vengeance,” said Dr. Fick. “What we saw interestingly this summer was many of the respiratory viruses we would expect to see in the wintertime actually show up mid-summer and late summer. We expect influenza to be like it was a couple of years ago.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that from 2019-2020, individuals who got vaccinated prevented more than 7 million flu illnesses, more than 100,000 hospitalizations, and more than 6,000 flu-related deaths.
Hy-Vee accepts most insurance companies.
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Seasonal Flu And Covid
COVID-19 and the flu will likely both be spreading this season, according to the CDC. Protecting yourself from the flu with a flu shot helps reduce your risk of serious illness and hospitalization.3 Thats important this year because there continue to be concerns about hospital capacity with the ongoing spread of COVID-19. It may be hard to know if you have COVID-19 or if it may be the flu or a cold, since symptoms are similar. Getting the COVID-19 vaccine and the flu vaccine will give you the best protection. You can even get them at the same time.3 Ask your doctor if you have more questions about how these vaccines can help protect you.
- Those with specific health conditions
More Ways You Can Help Protect Yourself Against The Flu
After you get your flu shot, continue to take steps to protect yourself and others from the flu and from COVID-19. That means frequent hand-washing, wearing a cloth mask and keeping a safe distance when youre in public spaces. Here are more ways you can help protect yourself and your community:
If youre feeling sick, stay home
Wash your hands throughout the day, especially after youve been in a public place or if you sneeze or cough
Avoid close contact with others and maintain a physical distance from others when youre in public spaces
Wear a cloth mask to cover your mouth and nose when youre around others. This helps protect others in case you may be infected
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily, like doorknobs, tables, countertops, phones and more
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How Much Do Flu Shots Cost At Drive
The cost of a flu shot will often depend on your health insurance coverage. Most plans fully cover flu shots, meaning you wont have to pay a copay or co-insurance to get your flu vaccine. If youre not sure what your insurance covers, call the member services number on the back of your insurance card.
If you dont have insurance, some clinics may offer free flu shots. There are various resources for finding low- or no-cost vaccines be sure to click or tap here to learn more. You can also pay for flu shots in cash. If you choose to go to a pharmacy for your flu shot, check goodrx.com to find the lowest price of flu shots at pharmacies in your area. Youll need to know the name of the vaccine youre getting to search for prices and discounts. Check with your pharmacist to get the name of the vaccine thats right for you.
The Vaccine Is Safe Mild Side Effects Are Normal
The vaccine is “incredibly safe,” and the risk of complications from COVID-19 itself are “much higher” than those associated with the vaccine.
A clinical trial conducted by Pfizer and BioNTech found the vaccine was 90.7% effective against symptomatic COVID-19 in younger children, and the most common side effects were pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache and muscle aches.
There were no cases of myocarditis reported in the study, although it was not large enough to pick up such a rare complication, the company said. Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle.
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About Vaccinations At Hy
You can skip the doctors office and receive vaccines by a pharmacist who is trained and certified in administering vaccinesno appointments necessary.* Theres also no prescription required. Plus, if youre not sure which vaccines you may need, well provide you with a free immunization screenings checklist to help you decide.
Who Should Get A Flu Shot This Year
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older get a flu vaccine each year, with very rare exceptions. The flu shot is especially beneficial for people who have a higher risk of developing complications from the flu. Examples include:
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Adults 65 and older
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Children 2 years old and younger
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People with chronic conditions like asthma, heart disease, and diabetes
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People who have weakened immune systems, like those with cancer or HIV
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People who are pregnant
The CDC recommends getting the flu shot in to get the most benefit from the vaccine. The vaccine needs about 2 weeks to fully take effect, and it lasts about 6 months covering the length of a typical flu season. Even if you miss the September-to-October window, getting the vaccine anytime during the flu season can still help protect you.
And no, the flu shot wont give you the flu. It can help protect you from getting the flu, but its not 100% effective. So, theres still a possibility that you can get the flu after you get the vaccine. However, the flu shot can help keep your symptoms from becoming severe if you happen to get the flu.
The flu is a serious infection. Its estimated that up to 810,000 people in the U.S. are hospitalized each year from the flu, and as many as 61,000 people die from it.
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