You Can Use Your Costco Membership to Get a Travel Vaccine-and It Saved Me More Than $100

"On Costco.com, you can pay $40 for a travel service consultation through a company called SafeGard. The process was fairly simple. I paid my fee, and later that day, I received an email with my log-in information for the website. I filled out an online form, detailing my travel plans and vaccine history, and in less than 24 hours, I was sent a personalized PDF suggesting a host of immunizations and medications."

"I called a couple of pharmacies and travel-medicine clinics in my hometown, and nearly dropped my phone when I was told it would cost more than $430 for a consultation and shot. That's when I learned about a relatively new program Costco offers their members that would potentially save me more than $150."

"A few days later, I was on the phone with the pharmacist from my local Costco. She walked me through the PDF results and doubled down on a couple of suggestions, including anti-malaria medication and pills to relieve traveler's diarrhea. I made an appointment the next day to get my shot at the Costco pharmacy."

Costco offers a travel health service program through SafeGard that provides personalized vaccination recommendations for international travel at significantly lower costs than traditional travel medicine clinics. Members pay $40 for an online consultation where they submit travel plans and vaccination history, receiving a personalized PDF with immunization and medication recommendations within 24 hours. A Costco pharmacist then reviews recommendations and administers vaccines at the pharmacy. For a Uganda trip requiring yellow fever vaccination, the total cost through Costco was approximately $307 ($40 consultation plus $280 vaccine plus $27 for medications), compared to over $430 at other clinics. The process is streamlined and convenient for members seeking pre-travel health preparations.

Read at Travel + Leisure