CDC: Retail settings become popular alternative for flu shots

ATLANTA — Many adults across the United States opted to visit their local drug store or supermarket to receive their flu shot during the 2010-2011 influenza season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report."

Although most adults received their flu vaccination at a doctor's office (39.8%), the CDC found that retail settings, including supermarkets and drug stores, were used by 18.4% of adults. This compared with the 1998-1999 and 2006-2007 influenza seasons, when 5% and 7% of adults, respectively, were vaccinated in stores, the CDC said. The agency partly attributed the increase in retail setting use to changes in state laws allowing pharmacists to administer influenza vaccinations to adults and, subsequently, more pharmacies offering influenza vaccinations.

The third most common place where adults were vaccinated during the 2010-2011 season was at their place of work.

The CDC said that the report was comprised in order to provide a baseline for places where adults received their influenza vaccination since the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended individuals ages 6 months and older should be immunized, as well as to help vaccination providers plan for the 2011-2012 influenza season.

The CDC analyzed information on influenza vaccination among adults ages 18 years and older from 46 states and the District of Columbia during the 2010-2011 season. Data were collected from January to March 2011 by the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, the CDC noted.