CPT
90471 — Immunization administration, single vaccine
ACA-covered vaccines should be free, including the admin fee.
Vaccines
90472 — Immunization admin; each additional vaccine
This is the lower fee for giving a 2nd, 3rd, or additional vaccine during the same visit.
- Typical setting: Doctor's office, pharmacy, clinic
- National avg charge (illustrative): $10–$25 per additional vaccine administration
- Most-disputed reason: Billing 90472 without a corresponding 90471 on the same claim
What it means
What 90472 actually means
This is the lower fee for giving a 2nd, 3rd, or additional vaccine during the same visit. It must be billed alongside 90471 for the first vaccine — it cannot stand alone. If you received 3 vaccines, your bill should show 90471 x1 and 90472 x2.
Common errors with this code
What goes wrong on real bills.
Most bills that look correct still contain at least one of these issues. Up to 49% of medical bills contain errors (CFPB).
- Billing 90472 without a corresponding 90471 on the same claim
- Billing 90471 multiple times for multiple vaccines instead of 90471 once plus 90472 for each additional
- Billing 90472 when 90461 should be used (90461 is the add-on code when 90460 pediatric counseling is used)
If you see 90472 on your bill
Three steps before paying.
1. Get the itemized bill. If your statement only shows a summary, request the CPT-level itemized bill before paying. Generate the request language →
2. Cross-check against the EOB. Compare what your insurer's Explanation of Benefits says you owe versus what the hospital is asking. They disagree more often than people think. Read the bill-vs-EOB guide →
3. Run a free Bill Scan. Upload the bill (and EOB if you have it) and BillBusted will flag the most likely issues with this specific code in your specific state. Run free scan →
Related codes
Other codes in this category.
People who land on 90472 often also see these adjacent codes on the same bill.
CPT
90651 — Human papillomavirus vaccine types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, 58, nonavalent , IM
Vaccine — admin (90471) is separate from the vaccine product code.
CPT
90670 — Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, 13 valent , IM
Vaccine — admin (90471) is separate from the vaccine product code.
CPT
90671 — Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, 15 valent , IM
Vaccine — admin (90471) is separate from the vaccine product code.
CPT
90677 — Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, 20 valent , IM
Vaccine — admin (90471) is separate from the vaccine product code.
CPT
90686 — Influenza vaccine, quadrivalent, IM
Should be free under ACA. Any charge is likely a coding error.
Related BillBusted guides
Plain-English reads if you see 90472 on a bill.
90472 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
What does 90472 usually cost?
$10–$25 per additional vaccine administration. Costs vary by region, payer contract, and whether the service was performed in a hospital outpatient department (which adds a facility fee) versus a free-standing clinic.
What's the most common billing error on 90472?
Billing 90472 without a corresponding 90471 on the same claim
What should I do if I see 90472 on my bill?
Request the itemized bill and the matching EOB from your insurer. Compare the units/quantity billed against what you actually received. Run a free BillBusted scan to flag the most likely errors specific to 90472 before paying.
Don't pay 90472 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.