Many pet insurance plans don’t cover vaccines. At Healthy Paws, we focus on unexpected care rather than routine services such as pet vaccinations. Still, vaccines remain essential for keeping your pet healthy, and they're typically paid out-of-pocket.

Vaccines protect against a wide range of preventable illnesses, and they’re part of every puppy or kitten’s first vet visits. Let’s explore how vaccines fit into your pet’s care routine and what Healthy Paws covers when it comes to veterinary costs.

Vaccines are divided into two categories, core and non-core. Core vaccines are considered essential for all pets, while non-core vaccines are recommended based on lifestyle or location.

Your vet will help determine the right combination for your dog or cat.

Core vaccines for puppies include rabies, parvovirus, distemper, and adenovirus. Depending on where you live or your dog’s lifestyle, your vet might also recommend Bordetella (kennel cough), leptospirosis, or Lyme disease.

Core cat vaccines include rabies, feline panleukopenia, feline herpesvirus, and calicivirus. Non-core options may include feline leukemia virus (FeLV), especially for cats who spend time outdoors or live with other cats.

With Healthy Paws, our pet insurance plan is designed to cover the unexpected, like illnesses, injuries, and emergencies. That means routine care, including pet vaccinations, isn’t part of the standard policy.

Healthy Paws keeps it simple with one simple plan that covers new accidents and illnesses, hereditary and congenital conditions, cancer treatments, diagnostics, and more. Preventive services such as vaccines, annual checkups, or flea control are not included in the plan coverage.

Vaccine costs depend on your pet’s age, breed, size, and schedule. Puppies and kittens may need a series of visits to complete their initial vaccinations, while adult pets usually need booster shots every one to three years. Costs per shot typically range from $20 to $60, with initial packages for young pets sometimes totaling $100 to $200.

To save money on pet vaccinations:

• Ask your vet about bundled vaccination visits for puppies or kittens
• Check for local low-cost vaccine clinics or humane society events
• Stick to your pet’s vaccine schedule to avoid unnecessary expenses later
• Consider budgeting for annual wellness expenses alongside your insurance plan

Vaccines aren’t covered by Healthy Paws, but they’re still a vital part of your pet’s health care journey. Keeping up with routine care helps protect your pet — and supports long-term wellness so you can focus insurance coverage on the unexpected.