I’m 46 and really don’t want to wait until I’m 50 to get the shingles vaccine. In the U.S., you can schedule a walk-in shingles vaccine at pharmacies, but if you’re under 50 they require a prescription for it from a doctor.
I have no desire to ask my GP for this prescription . . . is there any way to get a prescription online? I noticed that “weakened immune system” is one reason they might give you the prescription, and I wonder if my rapamycin use might be excuse enough to qualify for that.
I have tried 3 doctors already. No luck yet. Age restrictions are often hard to bypass when the FDA and/or an Rx is involved. I had the same problem when I wanted to order the Galleri blood test.
Some things are easy to access (self paying for PSA test if you are below the recommended age) but others like Shingrix (which require an Rx) are more difficult. Similar to PCSK9 inhibitors Shingrix also has refrigeration requirements which make importing it impractical.
The clearest solution I see (aside from waiting until you are 50) is to travel to another country where it is more widely available (twice since there are two shots). Unfortunately this is also an expensive and inconvenient solution.
Another workaround for adults in the US less than 50 but born well before 1995 when Chickenpox (Varicella) Vaccine was approved for those 1+ year old would be to get a varicella vaccine now as an adult. Most people born born before the varicella vaccine was available had chickenpox. While shingles is still possible after getting a varicella vaccine, it is less likely compared to those who had chickenpox but not the varicella vaccine.
Not yet, but I plan to at some point. From Gemini pro:
HPV Vaccine Procurement Options: San Francisco Bay Area
In California, obtaining the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (Gardasil 9) without a patient-specific prescription from a primary care physician is standard practice due to state regulations expanding pharmacist and clinical administration authority.
Below are the primary procurement avenues in the San Francisco Bay Area, categorized by facility type.
Retail Pharmacies
Under California law, licensed pharmacists possess the independent authority to initiate and administer routine vaccinations, including the HPV vaccine, to patients without a prior prescription from a physician.
Providers: Major retail pharmacy chains including CVS, Walgreens, Safeway, and Rite Aid.
Actionable Insight: Procurement is highly efficient via this route. Appointments can be scheduled directly through the respective corporate websites. It is advisable to verify specific localized inventory of Gardasil 9 prior to arrival, as clinical stock fluctuates by location.
Public Health and Specialized Immunization Clinics
Municipal health departments operate clinics explicitly designed to bypass the need for primary care referrals for preventative medicine.
AITC Immunization & Travel Clinic * Location: 101 Grove Street, Room 102, San Francisco.
Details: Operated by the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SF DPH). They stock Gardasil 9 and administer it on a fee-for-service basis. Note that they do not accept insurance; payment is required at the time of service.
Access: Appointments are mandatory and can be booked online or via phone (628-754-5500).
San Francisco City Clinic
Location: 356 7th Street, San Francisco.
Details: Provides HPV vaccination primarily targeted at individuals without insurance or those seeking accessible sexual health services.
Access: Walk-ins are accepted during operating hours, though capacity limits may result in early closure of the walk-in queue.
Dedicated Sexual Health Centers
Facilities focused on reproductive and sexual health inherently stock the HPV vaccine and operate on an informed-consent model that does not require external physician prescriptions.
Planned Parenthood Northern California
Location: 1522 Bush Street, San Francisco (plus additional Bay Area locations).
Details: Offers the HPV vaccine as part of routine preventative care.
Access: Appointments can be secured independently via their online portal or by calling 415-821-1282.
Urgent Care Networks
Private urgent care networks routinely stock standard adult vaccines and allow direct booking for preventative care visits.
Providers: Networks such as Carbon Health and Dignity Health GoHealth Urgent Care maintain multiple clinics across the Bay Area.
Details: These facilities operate on a hybrid walk-in and appointment model.
Actionable Insight: While they do not require outside prescriptions, they operate as standalone medical evaluations. You will be evaluated by an on-site clinician (NP, PA, or MD) who will subsequently authorize and administer the vaccine during the same visit.
Procurement Parameters & Data Gaps
Age Guidelines: The FDA has approved Gardasil 9 for individuals aged 9 through 45. If the recipient is over 45, standard clinics and pharmacies will generally refuse administration off-label without a specific directive or prescription from a primary care physician.
Dosing Schedule: Procurement models must account for the multi-dose requirement. Depending on the age of initial vaccination, full efficacy requires a two-dose or three-dose series spaced over a 6 to 12-month timeline.