Americans may be as likely to get a flu shot at one of the nation's largest pharmacy chains as in a doctor's office or clinic. That should not be surprising, according to healthcare market research publisher Kalorama Information. The nation's major drugstores have been using flu shot programs to earn revenue and to draw customers in the store to make other purchases, an indirect revenue strategy that Kalorama Information predicted in its reports on the retail clinic phenomenon in recent years.
Walgreen's pharmacies began delivering flu shots on September 1st of this year and the chain has already exceeded its 2008 total of 1.2 million shots, according to reports in other media outlets. CVS pharmacies with a MinuteClinic in the store are also offering the vaccine with no appointment necessary, and Rite Aid has offered walk-in flu shots at some locations without an appointment and at other locations if customers call first. The costs of the shots range from $18 to $25.
"Using medical services to get shoppers into the stores is a tactic that we've noticed in the drugstore industry recently," said Bruce Carlson, Publisher of Kalorama Information. "But with all the attention on the flu right now, retailers have really seized this opportunity."