CVS and Walgreens: Health Care, Profit, and the Flu

CVS and Walgreens: Health Care, Profit, and the Flu

Shot Economy

CVS Health and Walgreens Boots Alliance are healthcare companies, but they are also publicly traded, profit-driven corporations. That reality alone is not a moral judgment—it is a business fact. Their core model is built around serving people who are sick, managing chronic conditions, or attempting to prevent illness. When emotion is removed, the underlying truth is simple: they profit from illness and health-related services because that is the market they operate in.

Scale and Profitability

The scale of these companies is significant. CVS Health reported roughly $372 billion in annual revenue in 2023–2024 across retail pharmacy, insurance (Aetna), pharmacy benefit management, and clinical services. Walgreens Boots Alliance reported approximately $147 billion in annual revenue, largely driven by retail pharmacy operations. Pharmacy services—prescriptions, vaccinations, and insurer-reimbursed care—remain central to both businesses.

Flu Shots: Uptake and Public Funding

During the 2023–2024 flu season, about 47 percent of Americans received a flu vaccine. Pharmacies administered roughly half of all adult flu shots, making CVS and Walgreens the two largest private distributors. Most flu shots are not paid for out of pocket; Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers cover administration as preventive care. Pharmacies are reimbursed, typically $30–$60 per dose, with higher amounts for senior formulations.

Medicaid and Government Reimbursement

While CVS and Walgreens do not publicly disclose Medicaid revenue as a standalone figure, industry data suggest Medicaid accounts for roughly 10–15 percent of retail pharmacy volume. When extrapolated nationally, this represents tens of billions of dollars annually across prescriptions and clinical services, including vaccinations. The flu shot itself is often low-margin, but it strengthens insurer relationships and drives store traffic.

Two Flu Vaccines, Two Risk Profiles

Most flu shots are injectable and contain no live virus. However, the nasal spray vaccine (FluMist) is a live attenuated influenza vaccine. It contains a weakened virus, is approved only for limited age groups, and can shed virus at low levels shortly after administration. Despite this distinction, public reporting does not break down how many live nasal vaccines are administered each season.

Effectiveness and Outcomes Flu vaccine effectiveness varies widely by year and strain match, generally ranging from 10 to 60 percent. Vaccination does not guarantee protection, nor does it stop transmission. During the same season, the U.S. still saw approximately 40 million flu illnesses, 470,000 hospitalizations, and 28,000 deaths—most involving significant comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, advanced age, and vitamin deficiencies, particularly vitamin D.

The Double Revenue Effect

There is an additional economic reality worth noting. When the flu vaccine does not prevent illness, pharmacies profit again—this time from over-the-counter cold and flu medications. The same vaccination campaigns that drive people into stores for shots also drive return visits when people become sick, increasing foot traffic, retail sales, and prescription fills. In effect, pharmacies benefit both from administering the flu shot and from treating the illness when the vaccine does not work.

Caveat that the pharmaceuticals are necessary, life-saving, life-changing. Within the realms of the dark side of the pharmaceutical industry, agreed that comes with it. Yes, it is true – pharmaceutical companies is developing cures and means to make people suffering more comfortable, yes, that is true.

Are they also forcing issues and then forcing the cure? Are they creating cures for disease diseases they are causing.? Side effects from other meds and unhealthy food industry ? 💯⚖️

Truth in balance.