Free Shingles Vaccine Walgreens – In the debate on vaccines for COVID-19, we should not forget other necessary vaccines. Most of the debates and conversations are happening around the topics of COVID-19.
But, even during the chaos of COVID-19 Centers for Disease Control and prevention have not forgotten other diseases also. That is why the CDC has kept asking every American citizen to get other important vaccines also.
One of those important vaccines is the vaccine for shingles. So it is not completely free to get a vaccine regardless of your health insurance status, but if you are insured, you can also get a vaccine for shingles free of cost.
As you are already aware, Walgreens is among the most popular and biggest pharmaceutical chains in the United States. That is why we are going to take a look at the step-by-step process of the free shingles vaccine at Walgreens.
What are Shingles?
If you have been recommended by your doctor to get a vaccine for shingles and you don’t even know what shingles are, then you are at the right place because we don’t provide half-knowledge.
Shingle is a viral infection that is caused by the same virus which is responsible for chickenpox. If you have ever been diagnosed with chickenpox, it means the virus is already in your system, and it can attack once again by reactivating itself.
When you get attacked by the virus which causes chickenpox for the second time, it is not going to become chickenpox again. This time it will create a disease named shingles.
There could be hundreds of different trigger points of shingles, but the cause for the disease is either going to be diagnosed with chickenpox or receiving the vaccine as a precautionary measure for chickenpox.
There is a high probability that a vaccine that is very helpful in preventing chickenpox might become the reason that you get shingles even if you don’t ever get diagnosed with chickenpox in your whole life.
Methods for Free Shingles Vaccine at Walgreens
Vaccine for shingles at Walgreens is not free of cost thing. Walgreens also provides vaccines for COVID-19 and flu shots free of cost, but the vaccine for shingles is not sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and prevention.
Retail price of shingles vaccine at Walgreens
The prices of vaccines may vary according to the state in which you are taking the vaccine. But, the average retail price of a vaccine for shingles at Walgreens is around $199 per shot.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend at least two shots of vaccine for shingles in the span of one or two months to get the best results.
The overall cost of the vaccine for shingles at Walgreens is going to be around $400.
Get shingles vaccine at Walgreens for free of cost
Even though the Centers for Disease Control and prevention do not provide vaccines for singers, it doesn’t mean you cannot get them free of cost.
Most of the health insurance companies active in the United States of America provide cover for vaccines for shingles. It means if you are insured with a health care plan that means you can get the vaccine for shingles at Walgreens free of cost.
Walgreens accepts most of the health care providers working in the United States.
For example, if you are at an advanced age and you are secured by a Medicare plan, that means you can get a vaccine for shingles at Walgreens free of cost. You don’t have to pay more than $50 for both of the shots out of your pocket.
Kindly remember that Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B do not cover vaccines for shingles free of cost. You must have at least Medicare Part D, which covers all commercially available vaccines.
It is always a wise decision to consult with the pharmacy regarding the prices of vaccines for shingles, as different plans might require full payment upfront and later get reimbursement for the shots.
If you do not have any health insurance plan and you are not covered by any government insurance, that means you have to pay the retail price of the shingles vaccine at Walgreens.
Appointment for Shingles Vaccine at Walgreens
Now let’s take a look at this temple step process of appointment for shingles vaccine at Walgreens. Kindly take a look at every step very carefully because any wrong information might lead your application to get rejected.
You do not have to get any document to create an appointment for a vaccine. If you are insured and you are looking for a free shingles vaccine at Walgreens, then you have to present your health card or any other document before you get your shot at the pharmacy.
- First of all, you have to click on the button given above, which will take you to the official website.
- The button will also redirect you to the shingles vaccine page. On the appointment page, find a button name schedule now and click on that.
- It will take you to the next page, where you have to enter the age and location of the patient. Once you have entered the information, kindly click continue.
- Now it will ask you to enter either the zip code of your neighborhood or the name of the city you are living in.
- As soon as you enter the zip code, it will show you all the Walgreens stores around you.
- You can select one store and click continue to get to the next step.
- On this page, it will ask you to click on which vaccine you are looking for because we are looking for a vaccine for shingles. That is why we are going to click on the option named singles. But, sometimes, it can be mentioned as herpes zoster.
In states like New York, you might have to have a prescription from your doctor to get a vaccine for shingles. Even though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend everyone to get the vaccine, this doesn’t mean anyone can get it anytime in any state.
If your state requires a prescription from your doctor to get the vaccine, Walgreens will show you it pops up with the same information.
- Now it will ask you to select the date and time of your vaccine. Kindly make sure you are visiting the same pharmacy you selected in the previous steps at the given time.
- This final step will ask you to enter every single detail of the patient, starting from full name, full address to all the way contact information.
As soon as you enter all these details, it will create an appointment for you. To be on the safer side, we will suggest you reach the pharmacy at least 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment.
When you visit the pharmacy for your vaccination, kindly make sure you are bringing your photo ID, the printout of the successful appointment, and your health insurance, if you have any. Walgreens might reject you to provide a vaccine if you do not have these documents.
Takeaways
Shingles can be a very painful disease, and everyone above the age of 50 is more vulnerable to getting shingles than a youngster. That is why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend everyone above the age of 50 get a vaccine for shingles.
It is among the most prized vaccines available in the United States and is also recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and prevention. In retail, it is priced around $199 for shots, and you have to take two shots of the vaccine.
In total, you might have to pay around $400 if you are not insured and you are looking for a vaccine for shingles. But if you have any insurance from a private company, then you might not have to pay anything at all to get the vaccine. Even though most of the companies cover up to 90% of total costs, in some cases, you might be eligible to get full reimbursement.
The federal government of the United States also provides vaccines for shingles free of cost, but you have to be eligible to get enrolled in the Medicare Part D insurance plan. Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B do not make you eligible for getting free shingles vaccine at Walgreens.
Are there any side effects from taking vaccines for Shingles at Walgreens?
Yes, there are a few side effects associated with the vaccine for shingles, even if you get it from Walgreens or any other pharmaceutical company. Even though the mild side effects might develop in everyone who is going to take the vaccine, which will go away within a day or two, there is only one possibility out of 1,000,000 to get serious side effects of the vaccine.