Walgreens Flu Shots to Begin Tuesday

Beginning on Tuesday, Walgreens will start offering walk-in flu shots.

The chain will provide the flu shots at all pharmacy locations, although walk-in hours will vary from location to location.

Ken Skarote, on of Walgreens pharmacists, says that some might be able to get the flu shots at no cost.

“Medicare part D and B will cover the shots. We’ll be glad to try your insurance to see if they’ll cover the shot through us, but pretty much they’re $24.99, which is pretty much the cost of co-pays if you go to physicians,” Skarote said.

CVS Caremark Corp. will also offer 100,000 free flu shots valued at about $3 million to the unemployed, the Rhode Island-based company said yesterday in a statement.

Walgreens, which is based in Illinois, will distribute $1 million in shots to the uninsured through its 7,000 U.S. stores and clinics.

Job seekers are among the least likely to receive flu shots, with just 34 percent of them getting flu shots last year, compared with 49 percent of the overall population, according to a CVS study.