“Grim Reaper” Markets Flu Vaccine at Duane Reade

(c) Copyright of photos, text, October 11, 2013, Irene A. Masiello, all rights reserved, do not replicate the text nor the photos without the written permission of the author/photographer

(c) Copyright of photos, text, October 11, 2013, Irene A. Masiello, all rights reserved, do not replicate the text nor the photos without the written permission of the author/photographer

(c) Copyright of photos, text, October 11, 2013, Irene A. Masiello, all rights reserved, do not replicate the text nor the photos without the written permission of the author/photographer 

“Grim Reaper” Markets Flu Vaccine at Queens Duane Reade

By Irene A. Masiello

Duane Reade’s location in Bayside, Queens, NY has a macabre slant on flu season.

The staff has made the Grim Reaper a ghoulish messenger at the pharmacy department; standing almost 7 feet high, the Angel of Death statue greets customers at the “drop off” prescription section of the pharmacy. He holds an ominous computer printed sign printed on a pasty colored blue paper stating, “Don’t be afraid: get your flu shot today or I’ll come to visit.”

Apparently, someone at the pharmacy knows him personally as the sign bears his signature.

The statue of the Reaper stands towering over customers, many of them elderly, as they drop off their prescriptions. Certainly, it’s a great marketing tool to sell vaccines through fear in a national atmosphere of profits before people.

The Grim Reaper is a universal archetype centuries old. Queens is a multi-cultural borough of 8 million people. Some residents speak perfect English, others do not. Some are superstitious, some are not. Since obtaining a flu shot is a medical condition that can be dangerous or unwarranted, that decision is probably better made by an INFORMED consumer rather than a SCARED one.

Duane Reade’s staff was delighted by this “joke,” and my taking pictures, as well. Apparently, as professionals they do not grasp that in a diverse culture in a time of great national fear, scaring customers into making health care decisions is bad medicine. However, it might make for good business, increased profits and better sales numbers at corporate headquarters. I did ask the pharmacist if this was from corporate and she said yes. I took her word for it.

The manager scurried over and asked me if I wanted him to turn on the flashing lights and repulsive sounds of the Grim Reaper. I was game as I had left the pharmacy totally appalled after dropping off my prescription. I went home, thought about the implications, called a lawyer friend of mine who worked with me on my book and came back with my digital camera.

Before I left the Duane Reade, I told the pharmacist, “On the surface this appears amusing to some, however, I get the message.” Her face drained of color as I said, "As an elder advocate and author of a book on elder abuse and exploitation I think I know exploitation when I see it."

Irene A. Masiello is the author of Paradise Costs- A Victim’s Daughter Fights Back Elder Abuse, afterword: internationally known forensic and geriatric psychiatrist and co-author of the acclaimed “suicide-by-cop,” Bennett Blum, MD http://www.paradisecosts.com http://www.bennettblummd.com (c) Copyright of photos, text, October 11, 2013, Irene A. Masiello, all rights reserved, do not replicate the text nor the photos without the written permission of the author