Where to Get a Flu Shot

It's that time of year again: flu, and in turn, flu shot, season. If you still haven't gotten your shot yet, it is not too late. Here are  places to get that needle stuck in your arm, all for the sake of fighting influenza.

Health care offices: Doctor's offices remain the most common location for people to receive the influenza vaccine. So far, about 55 percent of people who have gotten a flu shot went to a medical office to receive it.

Pharmacies: Pharmacy giants like Walgreens, Rite-Aid, Duane Reade and CVS offer flu shots to the public. Most insurance plans are accepted at these places, and customers usually do not need an appointment.

Wholesale stores: Costco, Sam's Club and other wholesale retailers often have pharmacies built into their superstores. It's the same deal as the pharmacy giants: they take most major insurance plans and there is usually no scheduling necessary.

Grocery stores: Many supermarkets, the bigger names and some local joints, offer the shot, which is usually administered by pharmacists. Often, these places offer extended and weekend service, along with low rates or coupons.

Your Employer: To reduce sick days, many companies offer flu shots at work. Check with your company or boss to see if a flu shot may be available at your place of employment. Companies often take on the cost as an incentive to keep their employees healthy and safe during flu season.

Doctors' offices are most popular, said the CDC as it kicked off National Influenza Vaccination Month, but 21 percent receive shots in commercial settings, such as pharmacies and grocery stores, and 16 percent receive the vaccine at their place of work.

"The season is not over," said Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Disease, during a CDC teleconference Monday. "People should be taking advantage of the vaccines being offered."

For parents who may be worried about costs, the CDC's Vaccine for Children Program offers free vaccines to financially vulnerable children.