WEST DES MOINES, Iowa  — Hy-Vee Inc. will offer the flu vaccine at its more than 270 Hy-Vee pharmacy locations throughout its eight-state region without an appointment or prescription, the company said Tuesday. Vaccines will also be offered via a drive-up option at Hy-Vee pharmacy locations between August 17 and October 31.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends people 6 months and older get a flu vaccine each year to prevent getting and spreading the flu virus.

Hy-Vee added that throughout the COVID-19 pandemic the company has followed CDC guidelines for safety. Stores, including pharmacy areas, maintain enhanced cleaning regimens, social distancing protocols and have plexiglass shields at registers and customer service counters, the company said, adding that key measures Hy-Vee has implemented to ensure the safe administration of immunizations for its patients and pharmacy team members include:

• All Hy-Vee pharmacy team members are required to wear face masks at all times, including while administering immunizations.
• Any patient with COVID-19-like symptoms or who has had prolonged exposure to a positive case should wait the appropriate amount of time prior to receiving their vaccine for the health and safety of other patients and Hy-Vee team members.
• Patients receiving a vaccination will need to wear a face covering.

Hy-Vee said that drive-up flu vaccines will be offered in the parking lots of many of its pharmacy locations between Monday, August 17 and Saturday October 31 during the following times each week:

• Monday: 7 a.m.-11 a.m.
• Thursday: 3 p.m.-7 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Hy-Vee pharmacists conduct a screening process to ensure that they are administering the vaccine type most beneficial for each individual. Medicare and most insurance plans cover the flu vaccine and other immunizations at no charge. Flu vaccines are available at Hy-Vee pharmacies on a walk-in/drive-up basis without a prescription as allowed per state law during regular pharmacy hours.

The company notes that the age guidelines for flu vaccines vary in its eight-state operating territory. Rules in Illinois call for flu vaccines for people age 10 or over, and in Missouri it’s 7 years and older. In Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota and Wisconsin it’s 6 years and older, while in Nebraska and South Dakota it’s six months and older.

Hy-Vee pharmacists can administer the flu vaccine to individuals outside of the age-specific guidelines listed below with a prescription.