What vaccines and shots cost if you have no insurance

Where the lowest prices are

The best price for most vaccines is at your local or county health department. These are government offices that run clinics for the public. Many give some shots free or at a reduced price to people without insurance. Community health centers charge by income, and they are the second place to call.

A drugstore or private clinic often charges the full retail price. Before you book, call the office and ask for the total price, and ask whether it includes the fee for giving the shot. Health departments can also tell you which shots they offer and which they do not.

Some states also run programs for uninsured adults 19 and older. The Texas Adult Safety Net program, for one, charges up to about $25 a shot. Your health department can tell you whether your state has a program like this and which shots it covers.

What the shots cost

A tetanus shot protects you from a serious infection that can enter through a cut. Health departments we checked in October 2026 charged from nothing up to about $70, and that includes the fee for giving the shot. A few places give the shot to uninsured adults for free, and a Texas program usually caps the price at $25.

The hepatitis B vaccine protects your liver from a virus. Five health departments we checked in October 2026 charge $66 to $100 a dose for the three-dose adult vaccine. The two-dose kind costs $123 to $190 a dose. You need every dose to be fully protected, so ask for the price of the whole series.

The HPV vaccine protects against a virus that can cause cancer. Two county health departments we checked in October 2026 list $320 and $360 per dose. The maker's list price is $351.32 as of August 2026. Anyone 18 and under with no insurance can get the vaccine itself at no charge. Some state programs help uninsured adults, so call your health department first.

A flu shot costs far less than most of these. In the CDC's 2026-27 price list, most adult flu vaccines cost clinics about $21 to $59 a dose. Your health department or a community health center may charge less.

Our adult vaccines guide covers shingles, RSV and COVID-19 shots, which cost clinics about $152 to $321 a dose on the CDC's list.

Rabies shots and cortisone shots

Rabies shots are in a class of their own. In September 2026, the CDC said a typical course can cost between $11,000 and $14,000 per person. Government lists show the vaccine alone at $360 to $400 a dose, and a course after a bite needs four doses plus an antibody shot. Rabies is nearly always deadly once symptoms start, so please get care first and look for help paying right away.

A cortisone shot is a medicine put into a sore joint to reduce swelling, and it is not a vaccine. An orthopedic practice in Oklahoma posts a self-pay price of $125, and the price includes the medicine. New Hampshire's state cost website lists $111 to $2,340 for a joint injection for people without insurance, depending on where they go. For comparison, Medicare pays about $69 in a doctor's office in 2026 and about $314 in a hospital outpatient department. None of those amounts is a cash price.

Ways to pay less

Start with your health department and ask what it offers for people without insurance. Then ask a community health center, using our guide to community health centers to find one. Our tool can also help you find low-cost care near you.

Ask for the cash price in advance, and get it in writing when you can. Our phone script is in the guide on how to ask for the cash price. If you face a large bill, such as one for a rabies course, our guide on hospital financial assistance explains how to ask for help.

Guides for each shot

• The tetanus shot guide covers free and low-cost options and wound care.
• The hepatitis B vaccine guide explains the three-dose and two-dose series.
• The HPV vaccine guide covers the free program for children and teens.
• The flu shot guide explains where to find a low price each season.
• The adult vaccines guide covers the shingles, RSV and COVID-19 vaccines.
• The rabies shot guide explains the course and how to look for help paying.
• The cortisone shot guide compares cash and Medicare examples.

A word about safety

Please do not delay care that your doctor says you need because of cost. If you have a deep or dirty wound, an animal bite or a scratch from a wild animal, get it checked today. In an emergency, such as trouble breathing or bleeding that will not stop, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

This page gives general information and does not replace a doctor's advice. Ask your doctor or health department which shots are right for you.