Flu shots for the unemployed, uninsured: Will drugstore freebies be enough?
Filed under: Health, Recession, Insurance-health
Got health care? In this American recession, probably not, especially if you're included in the 10% unemployment rate. And this flu season is shaping up to be über-nasty.With separate vaccines for seasonal flu and swine flu (be advised!), more Americans than ever will be eager to get stuck this year; and CVS and Walgreens are stepping up to the plate to offer free seasonal flu shots, starting this week, to the unemployed.
CVS will offer 100,000 flu shots, valued at $3 million, to job seekers at all 500 of its walk-in MinuteClinics, and at scheduled events in many of its 6,900 drugstores. Walgreen's program is smaller -- about $1 million worth, and targeted at all uninsured customers in its 7,000 U.S. stores and clinics.
At $24.99 for the injection or $29.99 for the nasal spray version, the uninsured -- especially those without jobs -- are very unlikely to get seasonal flu shots. A CVS study says 34% of job seekers get flu shots, compared to 49% of the overall population. And with the H1N1, or swine flu, shots coming out separately in late October, it's likely that millions of uninsured Americans will be doubly unprotected.
The generous programs by CVS and Walgreens won't protect against swine flu, and will cover only an insignificant percentage of the uninsured population, bringing rise to a question that is certainly top-of-mind for epidemiologists and public health officials: will this year's flu season pull the nation's health debate into sharp focus? When thousands -- or millions -- of uninsured become sick from H1N1 and seasonal flu without health coverage, will lawmakers and the fearful American public recognize that our system does ration health care?
Flu shots to the insured and the employed, plus 133,000-some of the rest of you, is the ration our nation is dealt this year. And we are left to discover: what comes next?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-01-2009 @ 8:00PM
Tracy Coenen said...
People don't care enough about their own health to spend $30 to get themselves a flu shot? Then they deserve to get sick. It's time people start getting their priorities in order and put paying for their own health care needs at the top of the list.
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9-03-2009 @ 12:07PM
mike said...
no job no insurance no vehicle i know of prople like this 30.00 is a world away
9-06-2009 @ 3:52PM
chelly said...
boy we all are just like you- miss perfecto. i hope you get ill after you get the shot. who are you to say that people dont care about themselves to not spend 30 to get a shot? MAYBE they dont got 30 so why dont YOU pay for eveyones who doesnt have the money? sounds like the way to be. i am a nurse and with no insurance i cant even get one. so get a life girlie
9-12-2009 @ 12:03AM
SMH said...
There but for the grace of God......have you ever considered that maybe as others with more awareness have said that it's not a matter of not making health care a priority but rather not having the means. For some folks in these economic times 30.00 may not be easy to get or part with. Some people who might get the shot and spend the 30.00 may have to choose between feeding their kids or getting other medicine. Most parents will put their kids basic needs first and choose not to spend the $ on a flu shot so the kids can eat who knows. Until and unless you have walked in someone elses shoes it would be far kinder to be less judgemental . May you or someone you love never have to make that same choice.
9-15-2009 @ 4:10PM
Teri Lee said...
Try walking a mile in one of OUR shoes Tracy dear......the shoes of the unemployed! I have been unemployed since 3/2008, AND I am a breast cancer survivor who also has the Breast Cancer Gene, whose COBRA coverage runs out before the Swine Flu shots are available. I DO care about my health, and I have always been very proactive in keeping myself healthy, however, these are very difficult times....try to be a little compassionate to those of us who have to pick and choose what is most important to spend our measly unemployment compensation on, like the basic necessities to survive. I can only hope to find a semi-decent job before my unemployment has run out, and before I get sick again. God bless you, I hope you never have to be in MY situation or others even less fortunate than me!
10-14-2009 @ 7:04PM
tom fanning said...
This person should think before she makes a stupid remark. Obviously she has never been unemployed and has to watch every penny that they get from unemployment or other agencies. Tracy, you need to show a little compassion, and not talk out of your backside. I am sure people do care about their health, Just like some of the elderly have to make a choice between getting food and buying very expensive prescriptions. I hate talking bad about someone like you but you need to think about how some people struggle especially in these tough economic times.
9-03-2009 @ 9:53AM
Elaine said...
A great article, loved it, it makes you think.
I'm glad some of the stores are stepping forward to help, maybe others will follow their example.
For too many of us when it comes to food, gas, or a flu shot-the flu shot is on the bottom of the list. Thats normal.
So now there is a little help for the less fortunate. Yay!
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9-03-2009 @ 10:06AM
cher said...
Elaine has is right: when it comes to food, gas or a flu shot......now Tracy, the un/underemployed also have electric bills, water bills, gas for heating/cooking.......let's see......when it's -30 degrees out, snow up to our umm knees, and we need not only the gas for the furnace, but the electricity to RUN the furnace......which do you think we'd choose - bills vs flu shot....gosh, i'll take the shot and freeze to death..... What it's time is for the people of this country to wake up to what's going on here in our country.
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9-03-2009 @ 10:25PM
mike said...
cher said it all; well, a start anyway.
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9-06-2009 @ 9:34AM
don said...
THIS IS A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE IT PROTECTS THE RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUALS FROM THE IRRESPONSIBLE AND SLACKERS. HOWEVER WE HAVE BECOME A NATION OF FREE LOADERS. IF THE GOV'T OR SOMEONE ELSE DOES NOT GIVE IT TO YOU FOR FREE YOU DON'T WANT IT. THIS IS OBAMA'S SOCIETY. ANYONE WORKING GETS TO PAY FOR ANYONE NOT WORKING. SOME PEOPLE EVEN THINK "WELFARE" IS THEIR JOB. ACTUALLY HEARD THAT MANY, MANY TIMES WORKING FOR THE CORRUPT FEDERAL GOV'T. THE THESE FREELOADERS INFECT OTHER INDIVIDUALS AND GET THEM SICK. WE HAVE CREATED A NATION OF WELFARE, DISABILITY, SSI ETC. FRAUDS. THIS HAS BECOME ONE PIECE OF CRAP COUNTRY.
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9-06-2009 @ 1:16PM
bobby said...
Move if you're so damn disenchanted. I'm sick of you whiners spewing crap about the greatest nation on Earth. Go live in Mexico and dodge the bullets or Canada and freeze all year.
9-15-2009 @ 4:09PM
Teri Lee said...
You can always go somewhere else and live if you don't like this "piece of crap" country, Don. It is a choice and a privilege to live here in the good ole USA. You could be get into big trouble or even killed in some countries for voicing your opinion. Things might not always seem fair here, but it is better than any other alternative, at least in my opnion!
9-06-2009 @ 10:35PM
medken said...
Lets see how well those minute clinics handle someone who goes into anaphylactic shock cause he/she was allergic to eggs and failed to mention that...I think drug stores should stick to selling drugs, and candy, and vitamins, and leave the injections to medical professionals.
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9-06-2009 @ 11:11PM
adrienne said...
Plus, in addition to the virus being grown in chicken eggs, aluminum and mercury (thimerosal) are also added to the vaccine. You couldn't pay me enough money to get a flu vaccine so keep your free offer. Most people who die from the flu have been vaccinated. The vaccine does not prevent flu but it does weaken your immune system. CDC guesses each year which strains of flu will be prevalent and engineer that year's vaccine according to their educated guess. They are right less than 25% of the time. If the media would stop alarming the public about the flu and if people would wash their hands and cover their sneezes, all of America would be healthier.
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10-06-2009 @ 9:03AM
pattie317 said...
I've worked as a nursing assistant for 23 years. I've cared for others all my life. Long story short .... I am not working due to my own health...lost insurance on me and kids (single mom) ...no job, no unemployment...no child support.. do not quailify for Medicaid... turned down by SS...savings all but gone after 10 months. I AM AT THIS POINT GREATFUL to whom ever will supply my children and myself with FREE flu shots. The cost is only $30 each some say.... at this point it may as well be $3000.... Priorities? keeping my kids fed and sheltered must come first I'm not 'CRYING THE BLUES' simply stating I belong to a population that is rapidly growing.
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11-13-2009 @ 4:39PM
Barry said...
Three cheers for drugstores giving away flu shots to the unfortunate. This country needs more good people.
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