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As the fall season approaches, the flu vaccine is now available at Hy-Vee’s more than 275 Hy-Vee Pharmacy locations, with no appointment or prescription necessary.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends individuals ages 6 months and older get a flu vaccine each year to prevent against illness and flu-related hospitalization.

Patients can stop in anytime their local pharmacy is open to receive their flu shot. No appointments are necessary. To save time, patients can also schedule their flu shots in advance online and complete their vaccine consent form by visiting www.hy-vee.com/my-pharmacy/vaccine-consent.

Hy-Vee will also be hosting drive-thru flu shot clinics at all Hy-Vee Pharmacy locations this year from 3-7 p.m. on the following dates:

• Tuesday, Sept. 17
• Tuesday, Sept. 24
• Tuesday, Oct. 1
• Tuesday, Oct. 8

Both regular- and high-dose flu vaccines are available at Hy-Vee Pharmacy locations. Medicare and most insurance plans cover the flu vaccine and other immunizations at no charge.

Currently, flu vaccines are available without a prescription during regular pharmacy hours to eligible patients 6 months and older at Hy-Vee’s Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota locations; or 3 years and older in Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin locations, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ PREP Act.

Each patient who receives a flu shot at a Hy-Vee Pharmacy and is enrolled in the free Hy-Vee PERKS program can earn a 20-cent Hy-Vee Fuel Saver reward, which can be redeemed at any Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh or Dollar Fresh Market fuel location using their Hy-Vee PERKS card. See www.hy-vee.com for details. Restrictions apply.

Hy-Vee will also be offering workplace vaccination clinics this fall. Employers who wish to schedule an onsite clinic for their employees can email vaccineclinic@hy-vee.com for more details. Clinics are typically held September through November.