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HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — A poll conducted for Kmart Pharmacy found that over a third of customers aren’t getting a flu shot, and price is a key factor in their decision making.
Of more than 10,000 U.S. adults surveyed online by the Member Feedback and Insights team of Kmart parent Sears Holdings, 36% choose not to get a flu shot, and 23% said that price plays a significant role when deciding if they should get vaccinated.
Still, nearly one in four Americans believe that getting the flu vaccine early is the best way to avoid getting sick, according to the Kmart research.
Kmart offers no-cost flu vaccines with most insurance plans, and flu shots are available now at all Kmart Pharmacy locations on a walk-in basis. Shoppers enrolled in the Kmart Shop Your Way Pharmacy Rewards Program receive $10 back in points for every five qualifying prescriptions filled, including immunizations, in a rolling 12-month period. Pharmacy Rewards members get points for each flu shot purchased.
With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) no longer recommending the popular, needle-free FluMist vaccine, Kmart Pharmacy is offering flu shots including the trivalent, quadrivalent and high-dose flu vaccinations.
“We want our members and their families to have every opportunity to take care of their health, and the best protection against the flu is an annual flu shot,” Phil Keough, president of Kmart Pharmacy, said in a statement. “We are proud that Kmart is a top destination for convenient access to not only the flu shot but all vaccines, which are covered on most insurance plans. Our experienced pharmacists make a difference to our shoppers, listening to their needs, sharing expert advice and providing attentive patient care.”
Kmart Pharmacy’s survey also highlighted some common myths and misconceptions about preventing the flu. The poll found that 33% of respondents typically don’t get a flu shot because they mistakenly believe the vaccine won’t protect them or will give them the flu. Similarly, 35% of those surveyed think the flu can be treated with antibiotics, even though influenza is a viral — not bacterial — illness.
Also, nearly 72% of respondents incorrectly believe a flu shot isn’t safe for pregnant women, even though this group is especially more susceptible to developing serious illness from the flu, Kmart noted.
