BOISE, Idaho — Albertsons Pharmacies are stocked with the flu vaccine and have different options for people to get their vaccines. There will be parking lot flu shot clinic vaccines for people who prefer not or unable to come in to a store for any reason.
The CDC is encouraging flu and other vaccinations this coming flu season to stay healthy and minimize the strain on health systems.
“This year is the most important year to get your flu vaccine because we don’t want to fill up our hospitals and overflow our healthcare system with people getting sick by these respiratory viruses,” Albertsons' pharmacist, Timothy Flynn says.
According to a news release from Albertsons, the flu is a contagious disease that typically spreads between October and May through coughing, sneezing and close contact.
Albertsons says preventing against the flu during the COVID-19 pandemic is important, both to avoid getting other infections at the same time and reducing the burden on an already strained health care system. People at high risk of serious flu complications include young children, pregnant women, those with chronic health conditions and people over the age of 65.
The parking lot flu shot clinics will be held at five Albertsons stores during September and into mid-October. The locations are:
- Nampa – 2400 12th Avenue Rd. Tuesdays – Sept. 1, 8,15, 22, 29, Oct. 6, 13
- Eagle – 250 S. Eagle Rd. Thursdays – Sept. 3, 10, 17, 24, Oct. 1, 8, 15
- Boise – 909 E. Parkcenter Blvd. Fridays – Sept. 4, 11, 18, 25, Oct. 2, 9, 16
- Emmett – 640 Highway 16 Wednesday, Sept. 30
- Payette – 405 S. 8th Wednesday, Oct. 7
All clinics will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the store parking lot and no appointment is necessary. People should bring their insurance card and wear a face covering. People should also visit the Albertsons website and print out a consent and release form ahead of going to the parking lot.
“Really what this whole event is about is to offer a safe environment for people to get their flu shots and they can do it from the comfort and safety of their car,” Flynn says.
Pharmacy staff will be wearing face masks, gloves and have plexiglass dividers at the pharmacy counter. Wellness rooms are sanitized and cleaned between patients. Flu vaccine recipients will be pre-screened for COVID-19 symptoms.
The flu shot is free with most insurance, so there is no co-payment unless required by the plan. Everyone who receives an immunization will also receive a coupon for 10% off their next grocery purchase, where permitted by law, according to the news release.
