What adult vaccines cost if you have no insurance

What the CDC price list shows

The CDC, which is the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, publishes a list of what vaccine makers charge for adult shots. The version we used is the October 2026 list, which the CDC posted on September 30, 2026. One column is called private sector cost per dose. That column shows the price a vaccine maker lists for private buyers, such as a clinic or a pharmacy. It is not the price you pay when you walk in for a shot.

Here is what the October 2026 list shows for the vaccine alone, with no fee for giving the shot.

• The shingles vaccine is listed at about $243 a dose. The CDC says the shot comes in 2 doses, so the vaccine alone for the full series would be about $485.
• RSV vaccines are listed at about $319 to $321 a dose, depending on the maker. RSV is a virus that can cause serious lung illness in older adults.
• Pneumococcal vaccines protect against a germ that can cause pneumonia, and they are listed at about $117 to $302 a dose.
• Hepatitis B vaccines are listed at about $75 to $166 a dose, depending on the type.
• Hepatitis A vaccines are listed at about $86 to $90 a dose.
• COVID-19 vaccines for the 2026-2027 season are on a separate CDC list, at about $152 to $221 a dose.

Prices on the list can change when the contracts behind them end, so ask any clinic for its current price. Our guide on flu shot cost without insurance covers flu shots and the Tdap shot, which protects against three diseases.

Why is the price at the counter different?

A clinic pays the maker for the vaccine and then adds its own charges. Your bill can include a fee for giving the shot, and some places add the cost of a visit. Each place that gives shots can set its own price for the same shot. A vaccine that needs more than one dose costs more in total.

Because of this, the list helps you understand what the vaccine itself costs, but it cannot tell you your price. The only way to learn your price is to ask the place that will give the shot. You will find a phone script for this call in our guide on asking for the cash price.

Which adult shots do people ask about most?

A doctor or pharmacist can tell you which shots you are due for. We share what the CDC says so that you can plan your costs, and this is not medical advice.

• For shingles, the CDC recommends the vaccine for adults 50 and older, and for adults 19 and older with weakened immune systems. It says the shot is given in two doses.
• For RSV, the CDC recommends one dose for all adults 75 and older. It also recommends one dose for some younger adults who are at increased risk of severe RSV. A doctor or pharmacist can tell you if you are one of them.
• For COVID-19, a doctor or pharmacist can tell you if a shot makes sense for you this season.

If you are on Medicare, the CDC says people with Medicare Part D coverage pay nothing out of pocket for the shingles vaccine. Part D is the part of Medicare that helps pay for medicines. The CDC adds that some vaccine makers have programs that give vaccines to adults who cannot afford them. The pharmacist or your doctor can tell you how to apply.

Where adults without insurance can ask for a lower price

The best calls to make first are to places that serve people regardless of income.

• Your state or local health department may help. The federal Department of Health and Human Services says low-cost or no-cost COVID-19 vaccines may be available there. Many health departments also run other adult vaccine programs, so ask what they offer.
• A community health center is another good place to call. These centers serve everyone even if they cannot pay. They charge on a sliding scale, which means your fee goes up or down with your income. Our guide on community health centers explains how to find one.
• A cash-pay doctor may offer shots or can tell you where to get them for less. You can search for a cash-pay doctor near you and ask what is included.

Supplies at public programs can be limited and change from year to year, so call before you go. Ask whether they have the vaccine in stock, whether you need an appointment and what to bring.

What about children without insurance?

Children have their own CDC program, called Vaccines for Children, which gives vaccines at no cost to eligible children ages 18 or younger. Our flu shot cost guide explains who qualifies and what the office can charge. Your state or local health department can tell you which offices take part.

How to keep the cost down

1. Call the health department and ask whether it has the shot you need, and what it charges adults without insurance.
2. Ask a community health center about its sliding scale fee.
3. Call a pharmacy and a clinic, and ask each one for the self-pay price in total, including the fee for giving the shot.
4. Ask whether a visit is needed first, because some places charge for a visit as well.
5. Write down the price you were quoted and the date of the call.

If you cannot reach a place by phone, ask your doctor's office to help. Each of these steps is free to try. In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. You can read what to expect in our guide on the ER without insurance. This page gives general information and is not medical advice.