Vaccines such as the shingles vaccine and the flu shot are offered at drugstores, big-box stores, workplaces and even drive-through locations where you get a shot without leaving your car. No prescription is necessary, and these sites are as safe as physicians’ offices. They obtain their vaccines from the same sources. Needles are prepackaged and sterile. Shots are delivered by trained personnel.
Advantages to alternative sites: If you pay out-of-pocket, you are likely to pay less than at a doctor’s office. Hours are more convenient, and often appointments are not needed—though there may be less of a wait if you preregister at the store’s Web site.
When you might want to go to a doctor’s office: If you are prone to fainting or feel otherwise highly stressed about getting a shot…or if you have never had a particular type of vaccine before and might be allergic, you might want to get the vaccination at a doctor’s office in case some other treatment is needed. Caution: Always ask your physician whether you have any health issues that make vaccination inadvisable.
