Drive-Thru Flu Shots Near You: Finding a Clinic and What to Expect

With flu season upon us, one of the best ways you can protect yourself is by getting your annual flu vaccine. While there are multiple places you can go to get a flu shot, you may be looking for the fastest, most convenient way to get vaccinated.

Healthcare facilities and pharmacies have made it easier than ever to get your flu shot. In 2020, many locations started offering drive-thru flu shot clinics. This was done both to help people better socially distance due to concerns about COVID-19 and make getting a flu shot more convenient than ever before.

Drive-thru clinics continue to be an appealing way for people to get their flu shot. Many pharmacies, hospitals, and health clinics are still offering this service. Learn how you can discover where drive-thru flu shot locations are near you.

How do you find a drive-thru flu shot clinic near you?

If you have health insurance, the first place you’ll want to check for a drive-thru flu shot clinic is on your plan’s website. Many health groups and insurance plans are offering their own drive-thru clinics this year. Examples include:

• Kaiser Permanente (Southern California. Call to confirm whether your preferred location offers drive-thru flu shots, and when.)

• Lehigh Valley Health Network (Pennsylvania)

• Geisinger Health (Pennsylvania)

• Certain Veterans Affairs clinics (Examples include Arizona, Missouri, New Hampshire, and Utah. Call to confirm if your preferred location offers drive-thru flu shots, and when.)

• Sentara (North Carolina and Virginia)

• TidalHealth (Maryland)

You can also call your local pharmacy to ask if they are offering drive-thru or curbside flu shots.

Many county health departments offer drive-thru clinics as well. These are often where you can find free or discounted flu shots if you don’t have health insurance. Check your county health department’s website for more information.

Lastly, some clinics are promoting their drive-thrus on the news, so watch for announcements on your local news station or in your local newspaper. You can also search “drive thru flu shots near me” online to find drive-thrus in your area.

How to prepare for a drive-thru flu shot

Drive-thru flu shots might be a new experience for some people, which is why medical clinics, pharmacies, and insurance plans send out information to help people prepare. We’ve compiled some of these tips here:

1. Bring your photo ID and insurance card (if you have one). You’ll typically need these to register for your flu shot.

2. Make an appointment. Some clinics ask people to sign up for drive-thru appointments online. Find out if your clinic is offering this service by checking the clinic’s website or calling the clinic staff. This is useful if you want to avoid lines. Also, some clinics only give a certain number of flu shots each day.

3. Fill out paperwork ahead of time. Most clinics require that you fill out a registration and consent form before getting your flu shot. Typically, you can fill out these forms online through a pharmacy or clinic’s website. Many clinics ask people to fill these out before they arrive. Some will have these available on site when you get to the drive-thru. But it will be easier for you and the drive-thru staff if you have this already prepared.

4. Consider calling to make sure they have your vaccine. Most people can get the regular-dose flu shot, but there are different flu shots available for adults 65 and older. If you’re not sure which type of flu shot is best for you, ask your primary care provider or pharmacist. There is also a nasal spray vaccine called FluMist that can be given to certain people between ages 2 and 49. Be sure to call the drive-thru staff, and ask if they have the vaccine you need before you go.

5. Bring exact change. If you’re planning to pay in cash for your vaccine, bring exact change to make it easier for clinic staff to process your payment. Contact the drive-thru clinic ahead of time to ask about expected costs.

6. Wear short sleeves or loose clothing. In a car, it won’t be as easy as it is in a clinic for you to remove layers of clothing to give your vaccinator access to your arm. Plan ahead for this, especially if you or someone in your car is very young or has limited mobility.

7. Ask another adult to go with you. You may want to have another adult in the car with you. This can be helpful if you’re nervous about needles. Or, if you’re bringing a baby, toddler, or young child in for a flu shot, they can help distract and soothe them.

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Do you need to have an appointment at a drive-thru flu shot clinic?

You don’t always need an appointment at a drive-thru flu shot clinic. But it varies between locations. Some clinics require appointments. Others only take “walk-ins” and don’t allow people to make appointments. And still others have both options available.

This information can usually be found on a pharmacy or health clinic’s website. But if you’re unsure, call to ask the organization that’s hosting the drive-thru flu shot clinic ahead of time. They can let you know if appointments are required at their location.

What to expect at a drive-thru flu shot clinic

Most drive-thru flu shot clinics will be set up with a similar series of stations. Here’s what you can generally expect:

• Many clinics will have signs posted across the clinic campus or parking lot, directing you to drive to the location where you need to line up.

• While you stay in your car, a clinic team member will ask you a series of screening questions.

• A clinic team member will then verify your information and insurance, and take any paperwork you’ve filled out (or verify if you did online). If you don’t have insurance, this will be when you pay for your flu shot. Then, they’ll direct you to the next station.

• A healthcare professional — like a pharmacist, nurse, or another team member — will review your flu form and administer your flu shot. They may ask you to open your car door for easier access, especially if you or someone else in your car has difficulty with vaccines.

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How much do flu shots cost at drive-thru clinics?

The cost of a flu shot will often depend on your health insurance coverage. Most plans fully cover flu shots, meaning you won’t have to pay a copay or coinsurance to get your flu vaccine. If you’re not sure what your insurance covers, call the member services number on the back of your insurance card.

If you don’t have insurance, some clinics may offer free flu shots. There are various resources for finding low- or no-cost vaccines. You can also pay for flu shots in cash. If you choose to go to a pharmacy for your flu shot, check GoodRx to find the lowest price of flu shots at pharmacies in your area. You’ll need to know the name of the vaccine you’re getting to search for prices and discounts. Check with your pharmacist to get the name of the vaccine that’s right for you.

Alternatives to drive-thru flu shot clinics

It may be difficult to find drive-thru flu shot clinics in your area. So what are your options to get vaccinated, then?

Pharmacies

The most accessible option is likely your local pharmacy. It’s unusual to come across a pharmacy that doesn’t provide vaccinations or, at the least, adult flu shots. This may be the easiest option if you can’t find a drive-thru flu shot clinic near you.

Examples include:

• CVS

• Walgreens

• Walmart

• Rite Aid

• Kroger

• Publix

• Safeway (also offers drive-thru flu shot clinics in certain locations)

• Costco

• Meijer

• H-E-B

• Giant Eagle

• Hy-Vee

Retail health clinics

Some pharmacies also have retail health clinics within the same building — such as CVS MinuteClinic. There, you can walk in or make an appointment with a healthcare professional, such as a nurse practitioner. These services provide an extra layer of privacy compared to most pharmacies, as you’ll be vaccinated in a private exam room.

Urgent care centers

Many urgent care centers also offer flu shots. Similar to services available at retail health clinics, you’ll see a healthcare professional in a private exam room. Some urgent care centers require appointments, while others allow you to walk in at any time. Check with your local urgent care center for details.

Primary care providers

You can always contact your primary care provider’s (PCP’s) office to get your flu shot. Typically, you will need an appointment. But many PCPs offer flu shot clinics on certain days to anyone who is registered as a patient at their office. Be sure to contact your PCP’s office for flu shot details.

Mobile flu shot clinic

Think of an ice cream truck. But instead of sweet treats, the vehicle has flu shots, vaccination equipment, and healthcare professionals. That’s the basics of a mobile flu shot clinic.

Certain organizations offer mobile flu shot clinics. Some may partner with cities and towns to host them. Others work with businesses to host flu shot clinics at their workplaces. But these aren’t quite as common as drive-thru clinics. So it may be trickier to locate them.

Check with your local government’s website to see if they’re hosting a mobile flu shot clinic near you. You can also ask your employer if they’re planning to host a flu shot clinic where you work.

In-home flu shots

If you’re unable to leave home, in-home flu shots can be a helpful option. This is when a healthcare professional comes to where you live and administers the vaccine. Some visiting nurses associations (VNA) may offer this type of flu shot. If you already receive VNA services, contact them to ask if they do in-home vaccinations.

It’s a good idea to contact your insurance plan ahead of time to see if they pay for this type of flu shot. Not all insurance plans may cover this service. For example, Medicare has certain eligibility requirements when it comes to in-home vaccine coverage.

Who should get a flu shot this year?

The CDC recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older get a flu vaccine each year, with rare exceptions. The flu shot is especially beneficial for people who have a higher risk of developing complications from the flu. Examples include:

• Adults 65 and older

• Children under age 2

• People with chronic conditions such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes

• People who have weakened immune systems, such as those living with HIV or who are receiving chemotherapy

• Pregnant women

When should you get your flu shot?

The CDC recommends getting the annual flu shot in September or October to get the most benefit from the vaccine. But getting the flu shot anytime during the flu season can still help protect you. The vaccine needs about 2 weeks to fully take effect, and it lasts about 6 months — covering the length of a typical flu season.

Can the flu shot give you the flu?

No, the flu shot won’t give you the flu. It can help protect you from getting the flu, but it’s not 100% effective. So, there’s 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.

In addition to finding drive-thru flu shots near you, what else can you do to protect yourself against the flu?

Getting vaccinated is the most important thing you can do to protect yourself and those around you from the flu. But you can take basic steps to further avoid picking up or passing germs to others:

1. Cover your mouth and nose to prevent germs from spreading. Wearing a face mask or covering can help.

2. Keep your distance from others (at least 6 feet) in public, especially if you’re feeling under the weather. Doing so can help you avoid getting sick and infecting others.

3. Wash your hands often. Cleaning your hands regularly with soap and water or hand sanitizer can get rid of germs.

4. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth as much as you can. This is where the flu virus enters your body.

5. Regularly disinfect surfaces that are commonly touched. Examples include phones, door knobs, and drawer handles.

6. Stay home if you’re sick. Most people are contagious with the flu for about a week after getting sick.

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Written by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

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