Boots charging £19.95 for a flu jab

[DustyLee123]

That’s a lot isn’t it ? I thought they were about £10 in supermarkets

It's a lot cheaper than being very ill for a week. I must book my slot actually.

I think mine was £10-12 last September in Tesco.

Already more than I earn in an hour (primary school teaching assistant). I don't have a make up habit, or any expensive habits that I can cut out.

£20 would definitely make me reconsider having it in the first place. And the difference would come out of our food budget.

I paid I think £13 last year. Lloyds or Tesco, not sure which.

Asda was £9.99 last year, reduced to £4.99 in December.

I would probably wait until more places are doing it to shop around, even the NHS programme isn't yet

Superdrug is where I usually go, think it was £13 or 15 last autumn. They are pretty organised and have been impressed with their pharmacy staff.

I've been really unwell with flu in the past so I always go and get it.

As a side note I remember being knocked flat by Flu for a fortnight when I was 19 ! Even if it costs you an hours pay it is worth it.

The jabs are tailored to the prevalent strains every year.
Wait until September to get an up-to-date jab.

Yes, the worst bout of flu I had was when I was a mere 22 years old - barely able to move for days!

Surely they haven't worked out the prominent strain yet, it's still July.

I usually go to Tesco for mine (even though it’s a free one) and the service is really good. Can have it done on a Sunday too which is convenient. Would recommend.

You didn't ask that at all. You asked if that's expensive, I replied saying boots can charge what the hell they want.

If you want it cheaper go to somewhere cheaper.

Just Google flu vaccines in your area and find the one with reasonable pricing in a shop/chemist you're comfortable with.

Is this really that hard?

Won't you get an old one if you go now

cock boots lets you book now for jabs starting at the end of September.

You wouldn't get an old one if you go now. It's likely that boots are organising appointments for September time when the vaccines are delivered.

It's mainly managed by local health boards and usually there's three vaccines available, one for over 65's, one for children - nasal spray and one for the rest of the population.

They use data from previous years to determine the dominant strain. It takes time to produce the vaccine it wouldn't be possible to wait and see what is going to be the dominant strain and produce the vaccine afterwards. The flu season would be over once the vaccines were ready.

Thank you 🙏🏻

It’s September onwards for the appointments. Some people have booked already by the looks of it.

It’s not now, it’s September onwards.

I can only find a price for Boots. Last year he was free, this year he’s not, so I was asking what people have paid in previous years. Buy thanks for your input.

I just booked mine a few days ago for mid Sep. I always pay every year at Boots, despite hearing it is cheaper in places like Asda. The reason is, I can get it very early in Boots.

Whereas every time I've asked elsewhere, they've told me I had to wait until all the elderly/vulnerable etc etc people had been given theirs first and then to come back in like December.

Hell no am I waiting until then! The one time I got flu in my late 30s it was November and I got it so bad I was incapacitated for about 2 weeks! Couldn't even stand up without feeling dizzy 😵

But I remember it being about 10 quid pre-covid. Then 12 quid. Then 15 quid. Last year I think it was 18 quid and now 20 quid. If it keeps increasing ik price at this rate, I don't know what I'm going to do 😐

It says 55 on the NHS website. Is that wrong?

It does seem a lot but I'm guessing they can charge a higher price since hundreds of Lloyds pharmacies have been closed in Sainsburys this month.

Try asking your local chemist if they do it. If I recall correctly last year Asda was the cheapest, followed by Lloyds, Tesco, Superdrug and then Boots in that order. Hopefully you have one of those near to you.

Does seem more expensive than usual. I normally pay £10-15. Mind you I delayed a bit last year as everywhere seemed so busy, and I caught flu, only second time in my life but god it really does take it out of you. Will make sure I’m more prompt this year!

I am not on any old / vulnerable etc list, and had mine at Asda in September last year for a tenner