Flu shot prices vary greatly when insurance isn’t paying

• By EMILY KERN HEBERT
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Nov 7, 2008 - Page: 1E - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Got your flu shot yet?

You’ve got some options.

But while flu shots are available at a number of places around town, what you pay can vary greatly.

If your insurance isn’t picking up the cost of the shot, expect to pay anywhere from $10 to $54 for a flu shot and up to $74 for flu mist.

Local public health clinics are the  cheaper option.

Lauren Mendes, spokeswoman for the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, said health units are able to offer the shot at such a low price because the Louisiana Immunization Program utilizes the federal vaccine contract to procure its vaccines. 

The state bills Medicare and Medicaid and the money collected is used as “seed money” for the subsequent year’s influenza and pneumococcal procurement, Mendes said. 

The cost at other businesses, including private clinics and drugstores, is not so straightforward.

Catherine Harrell, spokeswoman for Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, said costs for private health-care providers depend on the volume of vaccine purchased, the manufacturer they purchase from and the administrative costs of the health-care facility.

An administrator at Baton Rouge Clinic declined to discuss the clinic’s flu shot prices and no one at the clinic returned several follow-up phone calls.

Lake Pediatrics at Bluebonnet will have a special flu shot clinic on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 8 a.m. to noon. Flu shots are available at all of the Lake clinics, including Lake After Hours.

The last two flu clinics at Baton Rouge Family Medical Center - operated by Baton Rouge General -- are today and Friday, Nov. 14, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. An appointment is required.

Other Baton Rouge General clinics offering flu shots are:

• Louisiana Internal Medicine Associates
• Baton Rouge Family in Livingston
• Burnham Family and Sports Medicine Centers
• Primary Care Group
• Family Health Center on North Boulevard
• Family Health Center South.
• Oak Grove Family Practice in Prairieville.
• Sherwood Forest Medical Clinic.
• Mid City Urgent Care offers the shots for $25 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Flu shots at local drugstores are available at certain stores on specific days. Call them directly for more information.