More Flu Shots Being Administered at Retail Pharmacies

Chicago, IL—While the majority of Americans still get vaccinated against the flu at their physician’s office, an increasing number are heading to their local pharmacy. During the last flu season, defined by the CDC as October 2011 through May 2012, about 20% of those who received a flu shot got it at a retail pharmacy. As recently as a decade ago, that figure was basically zero. This shift has been driven by convenience, aggressive marketing campaigns, and low cost (under the Affordable Care Act, most insurers can no longer charge copayments for preventive care, a category that includes flu vaccines). For example, pharmacists and nurse practitioners at Walgreen Co.’s stores vaccinated about 5.5 million people against the influenza virus last year, making it the second-largest single provider behind the federal government.