Rite Aid changes flu-shot policy; pregnant women can get vaccine without doctor’s note

Rite Aid alters flu-shot policy for pregnant women

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The nation’s third-largest drugstore chain is no longer making pregnant women show a prescription to get a flu shot.

Cheryl Slavinsky, a spokeswoman for Rite Aid, says the policy change is for both seasonal flu and swine flu shots.

Pregnant women have low vaccination rates, partly because many obstetricians don’t vaccinate and some pharmacists have been wary of giving them shots. Public health officials are trying to change that. Pregnant women are on the priority list for regular winter flu and swine flu shots.

Rite Aid announced the change in policy Wednesday. Spokesmen for Walgreen Co. and CVS Caremark Corp. say their drugstores don’t treat pregnant women seeking a flu shot any differently than the general public.