Updated Aug 2021
With the Coronavirus pandemic, it is even more important to get your flu shot this winter, so you don’t run the risk of getting both viruses, and also to halt the community spread of the flu virus. If we can stop the flu spreading so widely, it will help protect our elderly loved ones at a time when they are so vulnerable.
You can either schedule an appointment online to get at flu shot at Costco, or you can walk in for a flu shot. Costco is offering 3 different flu vaccines this year, and the prices start at $19.99 for those who don’t have insurance. For those who do have insurance, it is in many cases free.
Contents Overview & Quicklinks
Which flu vaccine are available at Costco ?
How to arrange your flu shot at Costco ?
- Find a local Costco Pharmacy
- Schedule an appointment online for a flu shot with Costco
- Walk-in for a shot at Costco Pharmacies
In-store pandemic measures at Costco
Dedicated shopping hours for seniors and vulnerable person
Does Medicare pay for flu shots at Costco ?
How much does a flu shot cost at Costco without insurance ?
Why is it so important for seniors to get flu shots ?
What other vaccines does Costco offer ?
Does medicare cover flu shots at Walgreens ?
How much is the flu vaccine at Walgreens without insurance ?
Does Medicare pay for flu shots at Walmart ?
How much is a flu vaccine at Walmart if you have to pay ?
Does medicare cover flu shots at Rite Aid ?
How much is the flu vaccine at Rite Aid without insurance ?
Does Medicare cover flu shots at CVS
What does a flu shot at CVS cost without insurance ?
Which flu vaccines is Costco offering ?
This year, Costco is offering the following Influenza Vaccines to the public –
- Afluria – Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine
- Flucelvax – Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine
- Fluad – High Dose Influenza Vaccine for seniors
How to arrange a flu shot at Costco ?
To organize your flu shot at Costco, you near to –
- locate a Costco pharmacy near you
- book an appointment using their online booking system, or
- walk into Costco and ask for a flu shot on the spot
- either way, download and fill out the Immunization Consent Form if you want to speed up the actual appointment
Find a local Costco pharmacy
Costco has a store locator on their website, which you can easily use to find a Costco near to you.
Visit the Costco website here and use their store locator tool.
Schedule an appointment online for a flu shot at Costco
Scheduling an appointment online for a flu shot at a Costco pharmacy near you is very simple, and beats turning up and waiting for a flu shot.
Just go to the Costco website and make an online reservation here.
Remember to download the Immunization Consent Form while you are on the site, and to fill that out ahead of time to make things go a little quicker in the pharmacy.
Along with that, you will also need to take a valid ID and a medical insurance card, if you are insured, to your eventual appointment.
Walk in for a flu shot at Costco Pharmacies
You can just turn up and ask for a flu shot at Costco, although waiting times will depend on the availability of staff to administer your flu shot – so it may take quite a bit longer than if you schedule an appointment online.
Remember to download and fill out the Immunization Consent Form from the Costco website if you want to speed up your appointment a little.
Take a valid ID and proof of your medical insurance card(if you have insurance).
Downloading the Immunization Consent Form
Whether you schedule a flu shot appointment online with a Costco pharmacy, you may want to download and then fill out the Immunization Consent Form, which you can get here.
This is just to make your appointment to go more quickly.
In-store pandemic measures at Costco
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, as you can imagine, Costco had to implement certain measures to protect everyone.
Safety and precautions at Costco due to the Covid-19 pandemic
The following information is taken directly from the Costco website –
Costco locations will follow the face mask regulations of the applicable state and local jurisdictions. In communities where COVID-19 transmission is high or substantial, per current CDC guidance, Costco strongly recommends that all members and guests wear face masks inside our locations.
Dedicated shopping hours for seniors and vulnerable persons
Special Operating Hours for Members Ages 60 or Older –
Costco’s warehouses have reduced their Special Operating Hours for Seniors to 9 to 10 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This will continue until further notice.
The Operating Hours are for adults aged 60 and older, and for those with disabilities or who are immunocompromised. Only members who meet these criteria will be able to shop during these hours. Guests will not be admitted.
“Exceptions:
- Brooklyn, NY: Special Operating Hours are from 8 to 9 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday
- Culver City, CA: Special Operating Hours are from 8 to 9 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday
- Iwilei (Honolulu), HI: Special Operating Hours are from 8 to 9 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday
- Temecula, CA: Special Operating Hours are from 8 to 9 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday
- Westbury, NY: Special Operating Hours are from 8 to 9 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday”
The source of the text above is the Costco “Updates and Coronavirus Response” page on their website, which was last updated August 28, 2021.
You can find that page here – https://www.costco.com/covid-updates.html
Does Medicare cover flu shots at Costco ?
If you have Medicare Part B, you are covered for one flu shot per season at a Medicare-enrolled pharmacy which accepts assignment, such as a Costco pharmacy.
Pharmacies which are Medicare-enrolled and which accept assignment bill Medicare directly.
There is no deductible or coinsurance to pay, and no out-of-pocket payment.
You also do not have to be a member at Costco to get a flu shot there, as health services cannot be denied to the public, and as such Costco’s pharmacies are open to all the public.
How much do flu vaccines cost at Costco without insurance ?
Without insurance, flu shots at Costco cost –
- Afluria or Flucelvax quadrivalent flu vaccines (members and non-members) – $19.99
- Fluad high-dose flu vaccine for seniors – $46.99
You can check the Costco vaccine prices page here –
https://www.costco.com/Pharmacy/adult-immunization-program.html
Why is it so important for seniors to get flu shots ?
Who is at the greatest risk from catching the flu ? –
- seniors
- children less than 5 yrs old
- individuals suffering from certain existing health conditions
The statistics for the elderly with regard to the flu are tough to read –
- 90% of all “flu-related deaths” in the US are people aged over 65 years old
- 60% of “flu-related hospital stays” in the US are people over 65 years old
Getting a flu shot done each year is one of the best measures available to prevent and protect against this.
Flu shots are available in a high strength dose, which is usually recommended for the elderly.
The source for the statistics is: NCOA Center for Benefits Access – “Vaccines: What Medicare pays for” which you can find and read here.
With each year an elderly person becomes more susceptible to catch the flu virus if they come into in contact with it.
And, the older an individual is, if they catch the flu, the greater the chance is that they may go on to develop a serious complication, such as pneumonia.
In addition, any underlying health conditions can increase the risk of even greater complications from the flu virus, and sadly the elderly are the demographic most likely to have underlying health conditions, just because of their age.
Underlying conditions which can increase the risk of greater complications from the flu virus include –
- heart disease
- asthma or COPD
- diabetes
- liver disease
- kidney disease
- a compromised immune system
It’s not just the elderly who should be getting a flu shot, we all should be getting a flu shot to slow the community spread of the flu virus.
What other vaccines does Costco offer ?
Other vaccines which are available at Costco –
- Hepatitis A (Harix)
- Hepatitis B (Engerix-B)
- Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B (Twinrix)
- Human Papilloma Virus (Gardasil 9)
- Meningitis (Menactra)
- Pneumonia (Pneumovax 23, Prevnar 13) or (Prevnar 13)
- Shingles (shingrix)
- Tetanus, Diptheria, Whooping Cough (Tdap) (Boostrix)
Does Medicare pay for flu shots at Walgreens ?
If you have Medicare Part B, it will cover one flu shot per season at a pharmacy such as Walgreens, if it is Medicare-enrolled and accepts assignment.
As Walgreens are Medicare-enrolled and accept assignment, there is no deductible or coinsurance to pay, and Walgreens should bill Medicare directly for the customer, so there is nothing to pay.
How much is a flu shot at Walgreens without insurance ?
Without insurance at Walgreens, flu vaccines cost –
- quadrivalent flu vaccine – $31.99
- high dose flu vaccine – $54.00
Does Medicare cover flu shots at Walmart ?
If you are enrolled in Medicare Part B, flu shots at Walmart pharmacies are covered by Medicare.
Walmart’s pharmacies are also Medicare-enrolled providers and accept assignment, so will bill Medicare directly for a person with Medicare Part B, and there is no deductible or coinsurance to pay.
How much is a flu vaccine at Walmart if you have to pay ?
Without insurance, a flu vaccine at a Walmart pharmacy will cost you –
- quadrivalent flu vaccine – $25.00
- high dose flu vaccine (this is for 0ver 65’s) – $48.00
Does Medicare pay for flu shots at Rite Aid ?
If you have Medicare Part B, it will cover one flu shot per season at a pharmacy such as Rite Aid, if it is Medicare-enrolled and accepts assignment.
As Rite Aid are Medicare-enrolled and accept assignment, there is no deductible or coinsurance to pay, and Rite Aid should bill Medicare directly for the customer, so there is nothing to pay.
How much is the flu vaccine at Rite Aid without insurance ?
Without insurance, a flu vaccine at Rite Aid costs –
- quadrivalent flu vaccine – $31.99
- high dose flu vaccine – $60.99
Does Medicare pay for flu shots at CVS ?
Flu shots at CVS are covered by Medicare Part B, so long as you are Medicare-enrolled in Medicare Part B, and you haven’t already had a shot in the same flu season, you should have nothing to pay.
CVS is a Medicare-enrolled pharmacy and accepts assignment.
CVS will bill Medicare directly for your flu shot, and as before there will be no deductible or coinsurance for you to pay.
Don’t forget to have the pharmacist forward the information of your flu vaccine to your primary care doctor.
What do flu vaccines cost at CVS without insurance ?
If you don’t have insurance, flu shots at CVS cost –
- Seasonal flu vaccine -$31.99
- Fluzone high-dose flu vaccine for seniors – $51.99
Disclaimer: The prices for the flu shots are collected from different websites and as a result may not be current or exact, but they are checked and updated wherever possible. There may also be some difference between stores and in each state as well.
I’m Gareth, the author and owner of Looking After Mom and Dad.com
I have been a caregiver for over 10 yrs and share all my tips here.
