SPOKANE, Wash. – Many insurances sponsor low and no-cost flu vaccines. But for the uninsured, Pharmacy manager of 6th Avenue Pharmacy Sophie Owens tells Non Stop Local, the costs to get the vaccine can be much higher.
“Flu vaccines run about $35 dollars, but the COVID vaccine’s pretty expensive,” Owens said. “It’s about $100.”
Spokane Regional Health District provides clinics where uninsured individuals can get vaccines for a low cost.
“I would say in the last 5 days we gave shots around 50 people,” SRHD Regional Vaccine coordinator Iryna Gusarenko said. “Roughly 100 vaccines given. If they’re using our pop-up clinics, we do not charge at all.”
Medical coupon sites offer another way to reduce costs, though limitations exist.
“We can’t use GoodRX as an independent pharmacy, ” Owens said.
Owens also explained that most patients are usually covered by insurance.
“I rarely have a patient come in, and have to pay cash,” Owens said. “Usually insurance is covering them.”
Washington state sponsors programs to provide no-cost vaccines to uninsured individuals through the Child and Adult Vaccine Program, coordinated by the Spokane Regional Health District.
Washington Department of Health says these programs allows individuals to receive vaccines at little to no cost.
But these programs are sponsored by Federal 317 funding, which is distributed by the CDC to states.
“We did receive a little bit less amount of vaccines for uninsured populations, but it should cover all the needs,” Gusarenko said.
For those needing vaccines without insurance, the Spokane Regional Health District recommends reaching out to them directly
“They can always call and we will guide them if they need vaccines immediately,” Gusarenko said.
