New Options for Getting H1N1 Vaccine

We're excited to announce that residents will have an additional option to vaccinate themselves and their families in the coming days.

The federal government has announced that large chain pharmacies will soon be able to begin offering H1N1 vaccine to all residents. Currently, the national chains which are participating are CVS, Publix, Rite Aid, Supervalu, Target, and Walgreens. This list may grow as other large pharmacy chains express interest in participating.

By working with these additional partners, we hope to increase the overall availability of vaccine in the state, especially since these pharmacies will be open throughout the holiday season and serving large numbers of customers.

It's important to note that these additional doses do not come from vaccine quantities allocated to Massachusetts by the CDC. We continue to receive ever-larger amounts of our allotted vaccine which are going out to clinicians, hospitals, and local health departments for use at large scale flu clinics. Those public clinics will continue to be planned to begin in January.

As these chain pharmacies begin to receive H1N1 vaccine at their individual store locations, these sites will be listed at www.mass.gov/flu, by clicking on "Find A Flu Clinic".

For additional information, you can read a letter from DPH Commissioner John Auerbach to local public health departments about this federal partnership with chain pharmacies to distribute H1N1 vaccine.

Comments

[Dave RPh]

Don't the Pharmacies involved have to provide the vaccine
regardless of ability-to-pay? -------------------------------------
DPH RESPONDS: Thank you for your question. The vaccine itself must be provided free of charge – however, pharmacies can charge an administrative fee for services rendered – which in most cases is paid by the customer’s health insurance. People who do not have health insurance, or who are concerned that their particular health insurance policy will not cover this administrative cost, are encouraged to get vaccinated at a public flu clinic near them.

[David Knopp]

Everyone keeps saying they'll have it "soon." My local Wallgreens has been saying this for over a month. No one has it for the general population -- I mean no one. Where are the shipments, why can't anyone commit to a specific date???? My Dr. refuses to give it to me because they still don't have enough. WHERE ARE THE VACCINES and WHY WON'T ANYONE GIVE A DATE????