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DEERFIELD — Walgreen Co. said Tuesday it is now selling flu shots at almost all of its stores, with vaccinations available at almost any time its pharmacies and walk-in retail clinics are open.
In past years Walgreen made flu shots available during limited hours. There will be some limits on availability at 24-hour pharmacies, the company said. Customers don't need an appointment to get the shots, which cost $29.99 each. A FluMist nasal spray costs $34.99. Medicare Part B covers the flu shots, and Walgreen said health insurers UnitedHealth Group Inc. and Cigna Corp. will cover shots for members nationwide. Other regional carriers will also cover the cost of the vaccinations.
The company said the shots are available effective immediately. Some stores started selling the vaccinations last week. In 2009, Walgreen started administering flu shots on Sept. 1.
Walgreen runs more than 7,500 stores around the country. About 350 of those stores have walk-in Take Care Clinics.
The company said most stores in its Duane Reade chain are already offering flu shots, and all are expected to offer them during pharmacy hours by September.
A single flu shot is intended to immunize patients against swine flu, influenza B and the H3N2 flu strain. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends flu shots for everyone older than six months.
Walgreen said shoppers can go to http://www.walgreens.com/flu and fill out a flu shot form before they visit the store to save time. That option is not available for shots administered at Take Care Clinics or Duane Reade stores.
Shares of Walgreen rose 22 cents to $28.23 in morning trading.
