Many of you may already know about this promotion, but for those who don't, Giant Food is promoting free prescription fills and re-fills for antibiotics.

The promotion is presented as "helping you save your health and your budget."

I'm sure this is a temporary promotion, but if any of you have an antibiotic prescription that needs to be filled (for yourself or your family), check out your local Giant Food Store Pharmacy.

It is for nine select generic antibiotics.

For these they don't bill insurance, they just hand them to you. Their cost on these is pennies so it is a smart promotion.

I think this is a terrible idea. We over-prescribe anti-biotics as it is. That's why TB is suddenly anti-biotic resistant. I believe Giant should charge something, even if it is a nominal buck or two.

Whether these prescriptions cost Giant pennies, or whether some antibiotics are over prescribed is irrelevant. They are not sold to their customers for pennies.

WashingTone Locian, although I concur antibiotics have been over-prescribed for colds and sniffles in the past, doctors are more reluctant to prescribe as a general cure-all.

Antibotics are often prescribed after surgeries to prevent infections during the healing process. And there are some people who need antibiotics because of a weakend immune system (for any number of reasons).

Antibiotics are good, when prescribed for the right reason. No need to toss out the baby with the bath water.

What Giant is doing is a good thing.

What it costs Giant _is_ relevant, that is why those are the ones available and not just any antibiotic, as your post implies.

I was complementing the move as a good marketing tool.

Wegmans starting; Giant was kinda forced into it.

s



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/02/2010 12:26AM by inkahootz.

I don't thnk Walmart ever offered free antibiotic prescriptions - they offered $4 prescriptions - which is still a pretty decent deal.

Walmart jumped on the bandwagon after Giant first announced this promotion.

Wegman's announcement to follow along was made a few hours ago, to begin tomorrow (1/7) and end March 31.

It really doesn't matter to me who started the ball rolling. With so many people out of work and without insurance, every little bit helps .... even if its antibiotic prescriptions that cost the pharmacies pennie.

I think Target has either 3 or 4 dollar generics, and their credit card has all kinds of deals attached to it, if you want to open a credit card right now.

Junes Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> With so many people out of work and
> without insurance,

Hate to break the news to you Junes, but the D.C. Metro area has the LOWEST unemployment rate in the Country. I believe, and correct me if I'm wrong, it is somewhere around 4.6%.

4.6% is low during boom times.

Quit watching CNN.

I heard unemployment was 3.7% in Fairfax County. This was tonight on WTOP radio while driving home in the Blizzard of 2009.

...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/2009 09:16PM by Junes.

Junes Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Alan Greenspan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Junes Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > With so many people out of work and
> > > without insurance,
> >
> > Hate to break the news to you Junes, but the
> D.C.
> > Metro area has the LOWEST unemployment rate in
> the
> > Country. I believe, and correct me if I'm
> wrong,
> > it is somewhere around 4.6%.
> >
> > 4.6% is low during boom times.
> >
> > Quit watching CNN.
>
>
> Tell that to the people who are out of work - not
> the day laborers ... the professionals who worked
> for companies that downsized and rolled off the statistics list.

> > > Junes Wrote:

> > Tell that to the people who are out of work -
the professionals who
> worked
> > for companies that downsized and rolled off the
> statistics list.


What?!!!!

In case you don't realize, there is always a cycle of companies hiring and laying off. Even when times are good, some companies are laying off while others are hiring.

When times are bad, some hire and some lay off.

Bottom line: This area is a good place for employment.

Alan, it depends on your field. The statistics for unemployed or under-employed in the DC Metro area is hovering around 6%.

Many who have been laid off and "played out" their benefits have taken temp or lower paid jobs to keep body and soul together. Just because they are "employed" does not mean the "this area is a good place for employment."

If you have managed to retain your job, then you are among the lucky ones. Count your blessings.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/07/2009 05:35AM by Junes.

Junes Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Alan, it depends on your field. The statistics
> for unemployed or under-employed in the DC Metro
> area is hoovering around 6%.
>



Using your numbers, 94% of the working population in this area ARE WORKING.

The other 6% either don't want to work or are too good to work for the jobs offered.

Hey I'll hire you to come over and Hoover my place.

Deal?

alan, my understanding is that unemployement figures do not count people who cannot work or are no longer looking. Those figures only count those who want to work and try to do so, but cannot find a job.

Alan Greenspan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hey I'll hire you to come over and Hoover my
> place.
>
> Deal?

My friend owns a professional housekeeping service. She is bonded and her rate is $45/hour with a 2 hour minimum for continued service. One time contra cts are $60/hr.

If you want to pass along your contact information, I'll be sure she gets it.