Drugstore operators are beginning their seasonal flu shot campaigns several weeks early this year. And they say they expect greater demand for the vaccine in a year when the swine flu strain has dominated the news.
Walgreens and CVS are making flu shots available starting today, while Rite Aid says some of its pharmacists are already giving the shots.
The vaccine is intended to prevent the seasonal flu and is separate from vaccines for swine flu. A swine flu vaccine could be ready by mid-October.
Walgreen says it started giving flu shots on Oct. 1 last year. And CVS is offering the shots three or four weeks earlier than usual.
Walgreen and CVS each run about 6,900 stores around the country, while Rite Aid has about 4,800.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
