It is typically cheaper to get a flu shot at a pharmacy or a health club than at a doctor's office because the doctor's charges for an office visit include facilities, administration and vaccine costs. A health club typically just charges a margin for the actual shot. The actual cost of a flu shot (paid to a manufacturer) is around $5-$7.
In the case of Medicare patients, a doctor is required to charge Medicare patients for the office visit and the shot because of anti-fraud regulations.
According to a CDC study released June 17, 2011, 39.8 percent of those who received a flu shot got it in a doctor's office, 18.4 percent were vaccinated at a store, and 17.4 percent received their shot at work.
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