A recent survey by CVS/pharmacy shows only half of Americans plan on getting a flu shot this year, and even those who are may not get them soon enough: While the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention recommend vaccinations as soon as they are available, 55 percent of survey respondents said they wait until a normally scheduled visit to their doctor, or until flu season begins and other people get sick.
CVS/pharmacy offers flu shots every year, and this season it has more than 70 flu shot clinics scheduled at more than 45 stores in Rhode Island alone. Papatya Tankut, vice president of pharmacy professional services at CVS Caremark, spoke with Providence Business News about the importance of flu shots.
PBN: How do those survey results match up with previous years? Hadn’t there been a spike in flu shots during the bird flu scare?
TANKUT: According to the CDC, just 72 percent of people 65 and older were vaccinated in the 2006-07 flu season. A recent Associated Press article stated that last year, just 113 million of the 140 million flu vaccinations produced were used. This is the first year CVS/pharmacy issued a flu survey, so there is not a prior study to offer comparative data.
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PBN: Who should get a flu shot?
TANKUT: The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccination, especially for children ages 6 months through 18 years; pregnant women; people ages 50 and older; those with chronic disease such as diabetes, asthma and heart disease; and health care providers. A flu shot is also recommended for household contacts of people at high risk and children under 6 months.
PBN: Why are flu shots important?
TANKUT: Flu vaccinations are the first line of defense against the flu. The elderly and individuals with chronic disease are among the most vulnerable to the flu. In addition to preventing the flu, a recent study by CVS Caremark found that influenza vaccines helped reduce the risk of hospitalization and emergency room visits in patients with chronic conditions.
PBN: How effective are flu shots, since they can’t cover all strains of influenza?
TANKUT: In good years, flu vaccines are 70 to 90 percent effective.
PBN: How many people get their flu shots at CVS/pharmacy clinics every year, and do you think this is a good setting for large-scale immunization efforts?
TANKUT: CVS/pharmacy has increased its number of flu shot clinics this year. This flu season, CVS and MinuteClinic will deliver an estimated one million flu shots. In Rhode Island [because of a new law], pharmacists will be permitted to administer flu shots for the first time this year.
Because of our broad reach, with more than 6,300 stores nationwide, CVS/pharmacy can provide flu shots at convenient times and locations. With 545 MinuteClinic locations across the country, we can even offer flu shots on demand, including evenings and weekends.
