Are There Seasonal Allergy Shots? Yes — But Three Very Different Products
Yes, seasonal allergy shots exist — they are subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) targeting the tree, grass, and weed pollens that cause spring–summer–fall allergic rhinitis. But 'seasonal allergy shots' can legitimately mean three different products: (1) SCIT — the 3-to-5-year disease-modifying course (Cochrane 51 RCTs, SMD −0.73); (2) FDA-approved SLIT tablets for seasonal allergens (daily oral, not injected); or (3) a depot corticosteroid IM injection (symptomatic only, professionally discouraged). Curex falls into category 1: at-home SCIT shots at $129/month, personalized serum, weekly self-injection, Zoom-supervised first dose.
7 peer-reviewed sources
Yes — seasonal allergy shots exist as SCIT, delivering Cochrane symptom SMD −0.73 across 51 RCTs. They also sometimes refer to FDA SLIT tablets (oral, not injected) or a depot steroid shot (NOT immunotherapy, discouraged by AAAAI/ACAAI). Curex's at-home allergy shot kit ($129/month) is SCIT — the disease-modifying category.
The essentials
Yes, seasonal allergy shots exist. The accurate first-sentence answer is: subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) targeting tree, grass, and weed pollens is a real, well-evidenced treatment for seasonal allergic rhinitis. The Cochrane meta-analysis by Calderón 2007 synthesized 51 RCTs across 2,871 patients and found a symptom standardized mean difference (SMD) of −0.73 (95% CI −0.97 to −0.50) and a medication SMD of −0.57 (95% CI −0.82 to −0.33) — one of the largest evidence bodies in outpatient allergy medicine.
However, the honest follow-up is that "seasonal allergy shots" can legitimately mean three different things:
Thing 1: SCIT — the disease-modifying immunotherapy course. This is what "allergy shots" means in the clinical literature. It is a 3–5 year course of 60–80 subcutaneous injections of escalating allergen extract concentrations. A conventional clinic-based protocol requires approximately 39 visits in Year 1 per Cox 2011 PP3 (Summary Statement 33), each followed by a 30-minute post-injection observation window — which is why Curex confirms a prescribed epinephrine auto-injector is on hand before your first home dose and supervises first injections and every dose change live over Zoom. SCIT retrains the immune system from IgE-dominated Th2 toward IgG4-mediated tolerance. Durham 1999 NEJM documented 3 additional years of sustained clinical benefit after stopping a 3–4 year grass SCIT course. The pediatric PAT study (Möller 2002 JACI, Jacobsen 2007 Allergy) halved asthma incidence at 10-year follow-up. This is disease modification.
Curex's at-home IgE testing identifies which specific seasonal pollens drive a patient's symptoms, with allergist review to determine whether SCIT or an FDA-approved SLIT tablet is the right candidate. For eligible SCIT patients, Curex's at-home shot kit ($129/month) delivers a personalized serum sterile-compounded to USP <797> — the same pollen-targeting immunotherapy, administered as one weekly home injection with no clinic visits required after your initial Zoom-supervised dose.
Thing 2: FDA-approved SLIT tablets for seasonal allergens. Grastek (timothy grass, ALK, ages 5–65), Oralair (5-grass, Stallergenes, ages 5–65), and Ragwitek (short ragweed, Merck, ages 5–65 after 2021 expansion) are disease-modifying oral products — daily sublingual tablets, NOT injections. They are called "allergy immunotherapy" but are not shots in any literal sense. All carry boxed warnings for anaphylaxis, require a supervised first dose in a medical setting, and require epinephrine co-prescription.
Thing 3: the IM depot corticosteroid hay-fever shot. Kenalog-40 (triamcinolone acetonide) and Depo-Medrol (methylprednisolone acetate) are single-dose IM injections delivering symptomatic relief for several days to three weeks per the Depo-Medrol FDA label. Kenalog-40 was first FDA-approved on February 1, 1965; the label lists seasonal or perennial AR only among "allergic states intractable to adequate trials of conventional treatment." The AAAAI/ACAAI rhinitis Practice Parameter discourages single parenteral steroid administration for routine seasonal AR and contraindicates recurrent administration due to HPA-axis suppression and adrenal-axis risk. This is NOT immunotherapy. It does not prevent symptoms in future seasons.
The distinction matters clinically. SCIT and SLIT are disease-modifying; the corticosteroid is symptomatic. The corticosteroid delivers 1–3 weeks of relief; SCIT delivers 3–12 years of post-course benefit.
Ready to skip the surprise bills?
See if at-home allergy shots fit your allergies — a 2-minute quiz, designed by board-certified allergists, with flat monthly pricing and no clinic visits.
- 4.8/5Patient rating
- $129/moFlat pricing
- 50K+Patients treated
- HSA/FSAEligible
Efficacy by allergen — what the data shows
SCIT efficacy for seasonal allergic rhinitis is the most evidence-rich category in immunotherapy.
Same proven results. No clinic visits.
Curex's at-home allergy shots deliver the same allergen desensitization as clinic SCIT — for a flat $129/month, with no clinic visits and no facility fees.
See if at-home shots are right for youFrequently asked questions
Are there seasonal allergy shots for spring, summer, and fall separately?
No — SCIT is not divided into separate seasonal products. The same extract vial contains allergens for all relevant sensitizations regardless of their season. A patient sensitized to spring tree pollens, summer grasses, and fall ragweed would have all three represented in the same custom SCIT vial (or across two vials if incompatibility requires separation). The regimen is continuous year-round — weekly build-up injections regardless of pollen season, then every 2–4 weeks during maintenance. Pre-seasonal SCIT (building up before each pollen season annually) is more common in European protocols but uncommon in US practice.
What is the difference between seasonal allergy shots and flu shots?
These are entirely different products with no clinical overlap. A seasonal flu shot (influenza vaccine) is an annual prophylactic vaccine against a pathogen, not an allergen. SCIT (allergy shots) is immunotherapy that retrains the immune system to tolerate allergens — a completely different immune mechanism. Flu vaccines contain inactivated or live-attenuated influenza virus antigens that generate protective antibodies for one season. Allergy shots contain allergen extracts from pollens, dust mites, or pet dander in escalating doses over 3–5 years. They are not interchangeable and are given through different clinical pathways.
Are there seasonal allergy shots for kids?
Yes — SCIT is approved for children in US practice, with Cox 2011 PP3 supporting use in children aged 5 years and older. The pediatric evidence base is particularly strong: the PAT study (Möller 2002 JACI, Jacobsen 2007 Allergy) documented that children with seasonal allergic rhinitis who completed a 3-year SCIT course had a 10-year adjusted OR of 4.6 for remaining asthma-free compared to untreated controls. FDA-approved SLIT tablets (Grastek, Oralair, Ragwitek) are also approved for ages 5–65. A 30-minute self-observation period after each at-home injection is recommended; on your first dose and every dose change, your Curex allergist is present over Zoom. Candidacy for at-home SCIT in pediatric patients is determined by the allergist.
Are seasonal allergy shots covered by insurance?
Most commercial insurance policies cover SCIT for seasonal allergic rhinitis under CPT codes 95115 and 95117. Medicare covers SCIT under CPT 95115–95117, with the CMS 2025 PFS allowing approximately $11.97 per injection for CPT 95117. However, Medicaid acceptance among allergists varies dramatically by state — from 13.4% in New York to 72.3% in California per Ho FO et al. (Am J Manag Care 2024;30:374-379). Hospital outpatient department (HOPD) facility fees can add hundreds of dollars per visit even when the injection itself is covered. Patients should confirm both allergist participation in their plan and whether the service will be billed as office-based or HOPD before starting.
Is the steroid shot a doctor gives for hay fever the same as an allergy shot?
No — a steroid injection for hay fever (usually Kenalog-40 triamcinolone acetonide or Depo-Medrol methylprednisolone acetate) is a depot corticosteroid, not allergen immunotherapy. It suppresses the allergic inflammatory response systemically for approximately 1–3 weeks by reducing IgE-driven mast cell and eosinophil activity downstream. It does not retrain the immune system, does not produce lasting benefit, and does not prevent symptoms in future pollen seasons. The AAAAI/ACAAI rhinitis Practice Parameter discourages single parenteral steroid use for routine seasonal AR and explicitly contraindicates recurrent administration because of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression risk.
Do seasonal allergy shots work for both trees and ragweed together?
Yes — most SCIT patients with broad seasonal sensitization receive a multi-allergen vial that includes tree, grass, and ragweed extracts simultaneously. The extract is customized based on IgE test results and regional pollen calendars. The immunotherapy protocol (weekly build-up, then every 2–4 week maintenance) is the same regardless of extract complexity. Some allergists separate incompatible allergen combinations — for example, grasses and trees in one vial and molds and dust mites in a second vial — but this is a pragmatic formulation decision, not a clinical necessity driven by seasonal timing.
What is the success rate of seasonal allergy shots?
Cochrane Calderón 2007 found a symptom SMD of −0.73 across 51 RCTs — a clinically meaningful reduction broadly documented across multiple pollen allergens. Per-allergen landmark data: approximately 49% symptom reduction for grass (Walker 2001 JACI), significant peak-flow improvement for ragweed (Creticos 1996 NEJM), approximately 40% symptom reduction for birch (Bødtger 2002 Allergy). Disease-modification durability: 3 additional years of remission after stopping a 3–4 year grass course (Durham 1999 NEJM). Adherence is the real-world ceiling: only 43.9% of patients who initiate SCIT actually reach maintenance dose (Tkacz 2021, n=103,207), meaning incomplete courses limit outcomes for many.
Related Articles
Allergy Shots for Hay Fever — History & Evidence | Curex
Hay fever SCIT: Noon's 1911 Lancet protocol. Cochrane 2007: SMD −0.73 (51 RCTs). Durham 1999: 3-yr remission. At-home shots starting at $129/mo via Curex.
Read moreNames of Allergy Shots for Adults | Curex Guide
The clinical name is SCIT. Extracts come from Greer, ALK-Abelló, or Stallergenes Greer. FDA-approved branded tablets: Grastek, Oralair, Ragwitek, Odactra.
Read moreCat Allergy Shot for Humans | Curex SCIT Guide
This page covers cat allergy shots FOR HUMANS — SCIT with FDA-standardized Fel d 1 extract (10,000 BAU/mL). Not Cytopoint. Not Apoquel. ~72% symptom reduction in RCTs.
Read moreSeasonal Allergy Shot Guide | Curex SCIT Resource
A seasonal allergy shot is SCIT targeting tree, grass, and weed pollens — not a yearly steroid. Cochrane 51 RCTs: symptom SMD −0.73. Learn the full regimen.
Read moreAllergy Shots Pollen — Top-Funnel Guide | Curex
Allergy shots for pollen are SCIT targeting your specific IgE-sensitized pollens. Cochrane 51 RCTs: symptom SMD −0.73. 60–80 injections over 3–5 years. Full beginner guide.
Read moreAllergy Shots vs Drops: Evidence-Based Comparison | Curex
Allergy shots (SCIT) vs sublingual drops (SLIT): comparable efficacy per Nelson 2015, but SLIT has zero fatalities vs 1 per 2.5M shots. Full comparison.
Read moreGet your allergy shots — without the clinic.
Curex's flat $129/month covers end-to-end at-home immunotherapy — a personalized serum compounded to USP <797> sterile standards, board-certified allergist oversight, and one weekly injection you give yourself at home. No clinic visits, no facility fees. HSA/FSA eligible.
$129/mo flat · No facility fees · HSA/FSA eligible · Cancel anytime
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with questions about a medical condition. Content reviewed by board-certified allergists at Curex.