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CAMP HILL, Pa. — More than 500 Rite Aid pharmacies in California are offering whooping cough vaccinations for a newly lowered price of $57.99.
Rite Aid Corp. said Thursday that by July 1 — when a new California law takes effect requiring proof of pertussis immunization for all students entering grades 7 through 12 — almost all of the approximately 600 Rite Aid drug stores in the state will be able to vaccinate patients for on a walk-in basis or by appointment.
"Rite Aid is proud to make it easier — and cheaper — than ever for parents to get their children vaccinated against whooping cough, all well ahead of the start of the fall 2011 school year," Robert Thompson, executive vice president of pharmacy at Rite Aid, said in a statement. "Rite Aid pharmacists stand ready to help meet the demand for convenient access to vital immunizations."
A highly contagious bacterial infection, whooping cough hit a 60-year-high epidemic level last year, with more than 8,000 cases in California and 10 infant deaths in the state, according to Rite Aid.
Despite historically high immunization rates among the young, the California Department of Public Health warns that vaccination rates remain low for adolescents and adults, the drug chain said. Last fall, Rite Aid announced expanded availability of the pertussis vaccine at its drug stores in California to help stem the whooping cough outbreak.
Rite Aid also said Thursday that it’s making it easier to submit proof of vaccination to schools by participating in the California Immunization Registry (CAIR) by providing and signing any required documentation needed by the school district, including the so-called "yellow card," at all stores as well as updating the online registry that many schools can access; issuing a Rite Aid immunization card for the wallet; and issuing proof of past whooping cough vaccinations at any Rite Aid location that meet the new law.
