Rite Aid settles HIV discrimination complaint

Rite Aid has agreed to pay $10,000 to a Michigan customer who filed a federal complaint alleging he was denied a flu shot because he is HIV positive.

According to the settlement agreement with the U.S. Dept. of Justice, in September 2012, a pharmacist at a Rite Aid store in Okemos, Mich. refused to give a customer a flu shot because he was HIV positive.

The pharmacist reportedly told the customer she did not have the “special gloves” needed and asked the customer to come back on a different day when the gloves were available.

According to the settlement, another Rite Aid worker called the customer and offered to reschedule the appointment for a time when the pharmacist was not working. The customer got the flu shot at a different Rite Aid location.

As part of the settlement, Rite Aid of Michigan Inc. also agreed to pay a $5,000 penalty and to provide its employees with more training on the Americans with Disabilities Act and HIV discrimination.