Polio Vaccine Cost

Typical costs:

• For patients not covered by health insurance, a polio booster typically costs $50 to $200 or more. For example, at CVS Pharmacy's Minute Clinics^[1] , a polio shot costs $82. And at the San Francisco Department of Public Health^[2] travel clinic, an initial consultation costs $39 and polio vaccination costs $53 for a total of $92. And at Baylor Travel Medicine in Texas, an initial consultation costs $85 to $150, depending on the complexity of the patient's travel itinerary and medical history, and a follow-up appointment to administer the vaccine costs $25 to $85, and the vaccine costs $49 for a total of at least $159.
• Because a polio vaccination for an adult is considered travel-related, many health insurance plans consider it elective and do not cover it; however, some plans with preventive benefits do cover travel-related vaccinations.
• For patients covered by health insurance, typical expenses include a copay of $10 to $40 for the doctor visit and a copay for the vaccination. For example, this BlueCare Direct HMO^[3] covers vaccinations, including those needed for travel, for a $20 copay.

• After determining that you need the polio vaccine, the health professional will administer a shot. The booster is more than 99 percent effective when the patient has had the recommended primary series in the past.

• Public clinics and county health departments often offer low-cost routine vaccinations or booster shots. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services^[4] offers a public clinic locator by zip code.

• The oral polio vaccine, which is a live vaccine, was used at one time but is no longer recommended in the United States because of the small risk of contracting polio. Instead, a shot is recommended. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a fact sheet^[5] about polio vaccination, and also information on polio^[6] for travelers.
• You can visit your doctor for routine vaccinations and booster shots. Or, drug stores, such as Walgreens and CVS^[7] have clinics that offer polio boosters for adults in some store locations. Or, the CDC offers resources to help you find a travel clinic^[8] .
• For most people, the polio shot is considered very safe, and serious side effects are rare. The most common side effect is soreness or redness at the injection site.

1.  www.minuteclinic.com/services/vaccination/polio/
2.  www.sfcdcp.org/aitcprices.html
3.  www.creative-health-insurance.com/AnthemPDFFiles/BlueCareCovRates08.pdf
4.  findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/Search_HCC.aspx
5.  www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-IPV.pdf
6.  wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2012/chapter-3-infectious-diseases-related-to-travel/po...
7.  www.minuteclinic.com/
8.  wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/find-clinic

Check Out All Costs for Health & Personal Care		How Much Does a Heart Stent Cost?		How Much Does a Tummy Tuck Cost?		How Much Does Medical Marijuana Cost?

Today's Featured Cost Articles

Repair leaks before the rain starts pouring. Fall begins Monday, September 23. How about backpacking? Sweating college admissions? SAT test prep can reduce some of the stress of the big test. Don't leave the dancing with the stars. Take a lesson. September is Chicken Month. Have you considered raising a unique pet?

About CostHelper

CostHelper is based in Silicon Valley and provides consumers with unbiased price information about thousands of goods and services. Our writers are experienced journalists who adhere to our strict editorial ethics policy.

CostHelper Community

Teacher was recommended from the schools and D teacher was recommended from the school’s conductor Paid: 40.00 My son is in middle school and has been participating in his elementary school orchestra for two years. A lot of the kids were getting extra private lessons, and we can tell our son was a little bit behind the other students... [more] -Ed L. Violin Lessons Cost Headstone foundation only Paid: 995.00 Is this reasonable for just the foundation alone to be installed for a small market? I still have to pay for the market itself and it's installation!... [more] -D. Jackson Headstones Cost TMJ Orthotic Paid: 5500.00 Dentist made a custom made mouth guard or Orthotic on my lower teeth. It is only supposed to provide temporary relieve about 3-6 months. I have been using it for 8 months with no pain relief... [more] -Mr TMJ Treatment Cost Head Gasket Replacement Paid: 675.00 Realistically, $600-$700 is a reasonable amount depending on whether you are paying for parts and labor or just labor; and especially dependent on what other parts you are electing to replace when having the head gasket replaced... [more] -S. William Head Gasket Replacement Cost Before and after School Care Paid: 668.00 We live in the Bay area in California where everything is expensive. I am gratefull to have this so I can work... [more] -T Lawrence Before and After School Programs Cost Shingles vaccination Paid: 385.00 2019 Scripps charged over 600.00 for this. After Medicare and my part D insurance with blue Shield I paid $385.00 to Scripps. This is for the first vaccination... [more] -Edie1949 Shingles Vaccine Cost