CVS Vaccination Costs: How to Save on Shingles, TDAP, & Flu Shot - GoodRx (2024)

With so much attention focused on COVID-19, it’s easy to forget that other vaccine-preventable illnesses continue to pose health threats. Sometimes all it takes is stepping on a rusty nail or a loved one’s painful bout with shingles to bring routine immunizations top of mind.

For those who have put off regular vaccines, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) posts a recommended vaccination schedule for children and adults. If you’re looking to catch up on your vaccinations or help your child or parent do so, CVS can help.

The retail pharmacy giant offers up to 16 different vaccines — from diphtheria to varicella (chickenpox) — across its CVS Pharmacy, MinuteClinic, and CVS Inside Target locations. Read on to find out how to get the best value on vaccines for your money.

Remember, if you recently received or soon will receive the COVID-19 vaccine, public health officials recommend waiting at least 2 weeks after the last dose before getting any other vaccine.

What kinds of vaccines does CVS offer?

CVS Pharmacy offers a full list of vaccines. Among the most commonly requested ones are:

• Influenza (flu): The flu vaccine is offered on a seasonal basis. Two different kinds are available. Four-strain (quadrivalent) flu vaccine protects against four strains of the virus for children and adults. The high-dose or senior-dose flu vaccine is for people age 65 and older.

• Shingles: The shingles vaccine is recommended for people age 50 and older. It is given in two doses spaced 2 to 6 months apart.

• COVID-19: The long-awaited coronavirus vaccine is finally available to all adults age 16 and older starting April 19 and earlier in many places. A vaccine for younger teens and children is expected later this year.

• Tdap: The CDC recommends the combination tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine for adolescents and adults every 10 years to protect against all three infections.

Each state has its own age requirements and other vaccine restrictions, so be sure to check your local store’s rules before heading to CVS.

Do I have to make an appointment?

The COVID-19 vaccine requires making an appointment ahead of time at CVS.com. Most other vaccines are available on a walk-in basis. Same-day appointments are often available online. You can also answer the vaccine-specific questionnaire online instead of filling it out in person.

You may want to call ahead to your local CVS Pharmacy and make sure your desired vaccine is in stock. You can also check to see if there’s a wait at the store or clinic.

How much do vaccines cost at CVS?

Here are the retail costs (the cost without insurance) for several in-demand vaccines at CVS Pharmacy:

If you live in an area that has both CVS Pharmacy and MinuteClinic, compare prices and insurance coverage. You may be able to get a slightly better price by shopping around. You may also be able to ask one store to match the price of the other.

How much do vaccines cost at MinuteClinic?

MinuteClinic is a walk-in clinic that provides health screenings, treatment for common illnesses, and vaccinations for children, teens, and adults. It’s located inside more than 1,100 CVS Pharmacy and Target locations in 33 states and Washington, D.C.

At MinuteClinic, the rules are a little different than at CVS Pharmacy. First, MinuteClinic doesn’t offer COVID-19 vaccines. Many clinics still accept walk-ins, but some require appointments during the pandemic.

Lastly, unlike CVS Pharmacy, where pharmacists give shots, MinuteClinic is staffed by medical providers. That means a nurse practitioner or physician assistant will deliver your immunization instead of a pharmacist.

MinuteClinic accepts most insurance plans and lists its prices on its website. The prices represent the fee for a vaccine only. If you end up discussing other healthcare concerns during your vaccine appointment, you also may be charged for a separate medical visit.

Here are MinuteClinic cash prices for some of the most commonly requested vaccines, including:

What kind of insurance does CVS accept for vaccines?

CVS accepts more than 5,000 health insurance plans for vaccinations. Many routine vaccinations are considered preventive care under the Affordable Care Act and must be covered with no charge to you for visits to an in-network provider.

As a result, people with private insurance often find they have zero copays for routine vaccinations at retail pharmacies. But you’ll want to check with your plan or ask the pharmacist to run your insurance card before you receive the vaccine to be sure.

Does Medicare cover vaccines?

Medicare covers the flu and pneumococcal vaccines at 100% under Part B, along with the hepatitis B vaccine for those at higher risk. That means no out-of-pocket cost to the patient. A tetanus shot after experiencing a deep wound or burn also should be covered.

Medicare Part D plans should cover the shingles vaccine, but check with your plan. You may have to pay at least a portion out of pocket if you haven’t yet reached your deductible for the year (if your plan has a deductible). There may be a copay, depending on your plan.

Is the shingles vaccine covered by Medicare and can I get it at CVS?

Because the shingles vaccine requires two doses, if you have to pay full price — around $400 total — it may approach the $445 maximum Part D deductible that Medicare allows for 2021.

If that’s the case, you may want to consider getting your vaccine early in the year. This way you don’t have to worry about your deductible resetting in a new plan year soon after meeting it. You should discuss the risks and benefits of this strategy with your healthcare provider.

As far as going to CVS Pharmacy or CVS in Target to get your shingles vaccine, this is definitely an option. You can always call ahead or go online to schedule same-day appointments, or go in on a walk-in basis at many locations.

How to save money on vaccines

If you’re uninsured or having trouble paying for your vaccines, talk to your CVS pharmacist.

GoodRx offers discounts on vaccines as well as medications. You can print or show the CVS pharmacist a GoodRx coupon. For the shingles vaccine Shingrix, for example, you can save as much as 22% off the average retail price. Another GoodRx coupon can help save as much as 36% off a Tdap vaccine.

How to get low-cost or free vaccines

Children can receive financial assistance through the federal Vaccines for Children program. This is for kids who are:

• Uninsured

• Underinsured

• Medicaid-eligible

• American Indian or Alaska Native

The shingles vaccine’s manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, offers a patient assistance program for those without insurance who can’t afford the vaccine. Your healthcare provider needs to apply for the program on your behalf.