You can get the hepatitis A vaccine at most pharmacies, your primary care doctor’s office, local health departments, community health centers, and travel clinics. It’s one of the most widely available vaccines in the U.S., and most people with insurance pay nothing out of pocket for it.
Pharmacies and Doctor’s Offices
The quickest option for most adults is a retail pharmacy. Major chains like CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid stock the hepatitis A vaccine, and you can often walk in without an appointment. Your primary care provider can also administer it during a regular visit. If you’re getting vaccinated before international travel, dedicated travel clinics are another option and can advise you on other vaccines you may need for your destination.
Local Health Departments and Community Health Centers
If you’re uninsured or underinsured, your local health department or a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) is likely your best bet. These facilities receive government-funded vaccine supplies and can provide the hepatitis A vaccine at little or no cost. In many states, uninsured adults may be charged an administration fee of up to $25, but providers cannot turn you away if you can’t pay.
To find a community health center near you, use the federal Health Center Finder at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov. You can also visit your state health department’s website, which typically lists local vaccination sites and information on free or low-cost options.
What It Costs
Under the Affordable Care Act, non-grandfathered private insurance plans must cover the hepatitis A vaccine with no cost-sharing. That means no copay, no deductible, and no coinsurance for most people with employer-sponsored or marketplace insurance. Medicare Part D and Medicaid also generally cover it.
Without insurance, expect to pay roughly $89 per dose for adults or around $48 per dose for children at a local health department. Since the full series requires two doses, the total out-of-pocket cost for an uninsured adult runs in the $150 to $200 range depending on where you go. Retail pharmacies may charge more.
Free Vaccines for Children
Children under 19 can often receive the vaccine at no cost through the federal Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. Your child qualifies if they are uninsured, enrolled in or eligible for Medicaid, American Indian or Alaska Native, or underinsured (meaning their insurance doesn’t fully cover vaccines). Underinsured children can receive VFC vaccines at FQHCs and Rural Health Clinics. The provider will ask a few simple screening questions to confirm eligibility, and no documentation from your insurer is required.
How Many Doses You Need
The hepatitis A vaccine is given as two shots spaced about six months apart. This applies to both children (starting at 12 months) and adults. A combination vaccine that covers both hepatitis A and hepatitis B is also available, and that version requires three doses over six months.
If you’re traveling soon and need faster protection, the combination vaccine can be given on an accelerated schedule: three doses within 30 days, followed by a booster at 12 months. Once you complete the full series on any schedule, protection lasts at least 20 years based on long-term studies, and likely much longer. No booster is currently recommended after that.
Who Should Get Vaccinated
All children should receive the vaccine between 12 and 23 months of age as part of routine childhood immunization. Any child or teen up to 18 who missed it should catch up. Beyond that, vaccination is recommended for several groups of adults:
- International travelers, particularly to countries where hepatitis A is common
- People who use or inject drugs
- Men who have sex with men
- People experiencing homelessness
- People with chronic liver disease, including those with hepatitis B or C
- People with HIV
- Workers with occupational risk, such as those who handle primates or work in hepatitis A research labs
- Anyone expecting close contact with an international adoptee from a country where hepatitis A is common
That said, any adult who wants protection can get vaccinated. Hepatitis A spreads through contaminated food and water or close contact with an infected person, and outbreaks happen in the U.S. regularly. If you’re unsure whether you were vaccinated as a child, a simple blood test can check for immunity, or you can just get the vaccine since receiving it again poses no risk even if you’ve had it before.