A tetanus/diphtheria vaccination or booster prevents two diseases that are sometimes fatal: tetanus, which causes painful muscle tightening, and diphtheria, which can cause respiratory problems or skin lesions. Most U.S. adults were vaccinated during childhood; a booster shot is recommended every 10 years, especially for travelers to areas where diphtheria is endemic.

Typical costs:

For patients not covered by health insurance, the cost of a Td booster usually consists of a flat fee for the one required shot, which includes a shot administration fee and the cost of the vaccine, typically $25 to $60. For example, The Shot Nurse[1] , a mobile vaccination service in Tennessee, charges $35. Walgreens' Take Care Clinics[2] charge $45.
Health insurance plans that offer preventive benefits often cover a Td booster. For example, this individual plan from BlueCross Blue Shield of Tennessee covers the Td booster.
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.

Related articles: Travel Vaccinations, Travel Insurance, Baby Immunizations

What should be included:

A health care professional will administer a single booster shot. The shot is almost 100 percent effective for those who have been vaccinated in the past and will provide protection for 10 years.

Additional costs:

For adults 19 to 64 who are not pregnant and have never received a dose of TDaP, which is similar to Td but also includes protection against pertussis, also known as whooping cough, the CDC recommends replacing one Td booster with the TDaP shot, then continuing with Td boosters every 10 years. The TDaP shot is slightly more expensive. For example, Walgreens' Take Care Clinics[4] charge $65 for a TDaP shot.

Discounts:

Public clinics and county health departments often offer low-cost routine vaccinations or booster shots. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services[5] offers a public clinic locator by zipcode.

Shopping for tetanus diphtheria vaccine:

You can visit your doctor for routine vaccinations and booster shots. Or, drug stores, such as Walgreens and CVS[6] have clinics that offer routine vaccinations for adults in some store locations. Or, the CDC offers resources to help you find a travel clinic[7] .
The Td vaccination is considered very safe, and the most common side effect is redness or swelling at the vaccination site. In rare cases, a serious allergic reaction or deep pain and muscle wasting in the upper arm can occur.

Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.

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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments

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ER visit

Amount: $982.00

Posted by: Dtwn kb in Highlands Ranch, CO.	Posted: March 18th, 2023 09:03PM
Medical Facility/Clinic: University of Colorado ER Lone Tree	Insurance: United health insurance

Cut my hand and urgent care was closed. $982 for shot & 8 stitches for $2k. Still trying to figure out as insurance only paid 50% despite bing in network. Total scam!!

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TDap Vaccine (Medicaid in my homestate NJ)

Amount: $0.00

Posted by: Squid in Fort Lee, NJ.	Posted: July 21st, 2022 10:07AM
Medical Facility/Clinic: CVS	Insurance: Medicaid

Covered by medicaid. Had to get vaccine for school.

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Teatanus

Amount: $75.00

Posted by: Hollyhocks in Greenville, SC.	Posted: May 6th, 2021 01:05PM
Medical Facility/Clinic: CVS	Insurance: Medicare

Medicare seems money hungry when they won't pay for a booster shot.

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Tetanus Shot

Amount: $6,000.00

Posted by: Cheri S. in New Braunfels, TX.	Posted: January 27th, 2020 09:01PM
Medical Facility/Clinic: Resolute ER	Insurance: Veterans /Champva

Thanksgiving day. Xray 900.for foot stepped on 2 rusty nails. Shot 687.00, er room 1800. Dr. Who never even showed up, 1200. Nurse practitioner. 1000. Extra shot don't know what it was they SD I needed it. 467.00 administer charge 300. And 9.00. V.a. paid 1200. My copay is 500. Hospital can kiss my ass.

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Highway robbery

Amount: $907.00

Posted by: PM in New Brunswick, NJ.	Posted: November 15th, 2016 08:11AM
Medical Facility/Clinic: St Peters's hospital in new brunswick	Insurance: United Health

I received 2 stitches and got a $2700 bill from the ER. I declined the tetanus shot then received the bill from the books gal and I owed $842 to the hospital and another $300 to the physician billing. I questioned both especially after my insurance paid $1900. The hospital said $907 pharmacy charge was for the tetanus shot! Outrageous. Not right and they're refusing to help saying that's state pricing which is utter nonsense.

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Insane cost of Tetanus shot

Amount: $530.00

Posted by: Emily Keeton in Clearwater, FL.	Posted: October 27th, 2016 03:10PM
Medical Facility/Clinic: Baycare- Mease Countryside ER	Insurance: Humana

The negotiated rate for my tetanus shot at the ER was over $500. This means after the insurance process the claim Humana told me that I was responsible to pay over $500 for only the tetanus shot. that does not include the other insane charges for my ER visit but the tetanus shot is the one line item that surprised me the most.

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Tetanus

Amount: $209.00

Posted by: JanB in Capitola, CA.	Posted: July 25th, 2016 09:07AM
Medical Facility/Clinic: Dignity Health Urgent Care	Insurance: Medicare/Humana

June 2016 billing for Sept. 2015 treatment of infected cat bite.
$109 for vaccine & $100 for injection. I assumed insurance would cover this as it was a medical necessity. Wrong!

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TDap (Adacel)

Amount: $51.29

Posted by: Annie1913 in Alexandria, VA.	Posted: July 22nd, 2016 09:07AM
Medical Facility/Clinic: Costco Pharmacy	Insurance: None

Very quick and easy, cheaper than other pharmacies and my primary care doctor.

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TDAP Vaccine Booster

Amount: $415.00

Posted by: Not Happy with hospital in Fort Walton Beach, FL.	Posted: June 18th, 2016 09:06AM
Medical Facility/Clinic: Fort Walton Beach Medical Center	Insurance: Aetna

I last had a tetanus shot in 2009 and told the ER staff. I was still given the shot because they said, "it had been too long ago." My five stitches and 4 hour wait time in the ER cost $5000.

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TDAP Immunization

Amount: $96.00

Posted by: christina cropco in Clifton Park, NY.	Posted: June 17th, 2016 12:06PM
Medical Facility/Clinic: St.Peters Health Partners Med Assoc ,Alb	Insurance: MVP

I garden a lot and since I was at the doctors office I requested the immunization but was never told I had to pay for the shot up front and that there was also a charge to administer it.I was told my doctor had a memo regarding this but it was never posted and I was never told about this.

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TDAP

Amount: $22.00

Posted by: cat and finger dont mix in sugarland, TX.	Posted: April 28th, 2016 11:04AM
Medical Facility/Clinic: kroger	Insurance: bluecross blueshield

my cat bite me in the finger. went to my doctor gave me a RX for TDAP AND ANTIBIOTIC, went to kroger filled my RX and got my TDAP SHOT FOR 22.00. NOT BAD.

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Billing System Masquereding As A Healthcare System

Amount: $1,237.72

Posted by: StayAlert in Bentonnville, AR.	Posted: January 30th, 2016 02:01PM
Medical Facility/Clinic: Northwest Arkansas Medical Center	Insurance: Blue Cross

Woke up one morning with two bug bites on my arm. Swelling, fever, chills, pain in my head - a bad 24 hrs. Tried to see my doctor but that would be 3 weeks out so off to emergency. Bill was 2588.44.
30 seconds to look at the bites and a couple of minutes to write a prescription for antibiotic. Then the question came: had I had a tetanus booster lately? Could not remember when so he said we should give you one. 147 to administer and 509 for the vaccine, plus another 509 for the same vaccine. $800 more for the room, $445 for the doctor.
Under the insurance the vaccine was fully paid for by them at their agreed upon rate of 92.21.
The provider wants the whole 1019 (509.65 x 2) and the 147 for administering the shot, even though there is supposed to be an in-network discount.
Now they have given the bill to collections.

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TDaP booster

Amount: $125.00

Posted by: Dr. France in Cold Spring, KY.

Posted: November 1st, 2015 06:11AM

Non-insured pt presented to the Urgent Care Clinic where I am employed c request for TDaP booster. She was preparing to leave b/c the MA quoted her the cost, $125, which was more than she could afford. I named a relatively inexpensive cost, $25, which the pt accepted so she stayed and was immunized. All's good, right? NO! The price difference had to be paid so that the company could maintain its profit (?!) I'll do that. But people shouldn't have to pay ridiculous amounts for immunizations and doctors shouldn't have to make profit payments to corporate owners.

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TDaP

Amount: $956.20

Posted by: smokyhikergirl in Lima, OH.	Posted: August 14th, 2015 10:08AM
Medical Facility/Clinic: St. Rita's Medical Center	Insurance: Medical Mutual

Got bit by the family dog, next day had red line going up arm. Family doctor was booked so went to urgent care for tx. Tetanus shot was $902.20 plus $54 admin fee. Did I pay for a small foreign country to get shots too???

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Tetanus Diptheria Pertussis

Amount: $820.00

Posted by: SinglePayerSystemNow in Enumclaw, WA.	Posted: December 10th, 2014 11:12PM
Medical Facility/Clinic: St.. Elizabeth's Hospital	Insurance: Blue Cross

Had a gardening accident at home resulting in a deep cut in one finger from a sharp blade. Received 11 stitches and a tetanus booster. Bill for emergency room treatment was $5,150. Charge for tetanus booster was $820. $215 for vaccine, $165 for administration of vaccine by the nurse, & $440 for the hospital pharmacy to take the vaccine out of their cupboard. This hospital is a non-profit health care ministry guided by Catholic ethics, yet they charged these extremely inflated prices. Plus, they double billed for the emergency room physician's services. The physician's charge was $1,250; yet there was also an additional itemized charge of $1055 for Wound Repair, $355 for applying a splint, and $1,275 for emergency services. Since these services were provided by the physician and he billed $1,250, why did the hospital also bill for the physician's services? The splint itself, which should have cost the hospital about $5, was $285. Extreme markup on other supplies and services, as well!

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TDAP

Amount: $213.72

Posted by: Johnny Smitty in Mayfield, OH.	Posted: July 21st, 2014 07:07AM
Medical Facility/Clinic: HILLCREST HOSPITAL	Insurance: YES (PPO_

Insurance Covered 45 dollars- Hospital billing me 168.49 - Bullsh** This shot is 65 dollars at wallgreens- Make sure you shop around before you let the hospital give it to you after you have your baby. Fucking rotten healthcare system in the US

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PRIME CARE IN SALINAS, CA CHARGING ME $355

Amount: $255.00

Posted by: salvador dominguez in SALINAS, CA.	Posted: October 28th, 2013 09:10PM
Medical Facility/Clinic: PRIME CARE	Insurance: BLUE SHIELD PPO

I WENT TO PRIME CARE AND THE DR ASKED ME IF I HAD RECENTLY HAD TETANUS I TOLD HIM SO OFFERED IT TO ME NEVER DID I ASK THE COST OR DID THEY MENTION THAT IT WOULD COST ME $355 FOR THIS VACCINE. I AM VERY UPSET I COULD OF BEEN TOLD AND YES I SHOULD OF ASKED BUT THIS PRICE IS RIDICULOUS

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TDaP

Amount: $63.99

Posted by: A M in Denver, CO.	Posted: September 23rd, 2013 06:09PM
Medical Facility/Clinic: Walgreens/CVC	Insurance: No

My insurance won't cover(too low) so I had to pay the 63.99. Not bad and took 25min.

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Free shot

Amount: $0.00

Posted by: jillyd in Cedar City, UT.	Posted: April 15th, 2013 04:04AM
Medical Facility/Clinic: Public Health Department	Insurance: none

I was able to get this vaccine for travel purposes for free from the Utah Public Health Department.

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TDAP (tetanus) booster

Amount: $85.00

Posted by: Gay Wagner in Dayville, CT.	Posted: February 24th, 2013 07:02AM
Medical Facility/Clinic: NE CT Med.Group	Insurance: Medicare A&B, AARP Part D, AARP medigap

Important preventive treatment, should be covered by my seamless insurance. As an active gardener, I believe this coverage is prudent and could save the insurors a lot of money.

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Tdap vaccine

Amount: $123.00

Posted by: G Midyett in Paducah, KY.	Posted: December 26th, 2012 07:12AM
Medical Facility/Clinic: Jackson Purchase Medical	Insurance: Medicare

Medicare did not approve charges therefore AARP supplement did not pay. We were billed $123, $90 for Tdap solution and $30 for giving it.

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Tetanus/diptheria

Amount: $1,040.00

Posted by: Upset about cost in Ocala, Fl in Ocala, FL.	Posted: November 19th, 2012 09:11AM
Medical Facility/Clinic: Ocala Regional	Insurance: Medicaid

I cant see how come the bill was so expensive. Is it because I had medicaid?

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Tetanus Diptheria Booster

Amount: $38.94

Posted by: a user in Jacksonville, FL.	Posted: November 5th, 2012 01:11PM
Medical Facility/Clinic: County Health Department	Insurance: None

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