NEW YORK STATE – “Starting tomorrow, Wegmans is going to offer a 14 day supply of free prescription antibiotics,” said pharmacy manager David Germick.

That’s right. Free.

Germick said Wegmans will be giving away prescriptions for nine commonly prescribed generic drugs. All that’s required is a prescription and the swipe of a Shopper’s Club Card. Those prescriptions included are Amoxicillin, Doxycycline, Erythromycin, Penecillin and Tetracycline.

“The Wegmans family really believes that with both the economic times we’re in and in the peak of cough and cold season, this was a great way to help not only our employees, but our community, to save a little bit more and to live healthier, better lives,” Germick said.

“That’s great. That’s unbelievable. And it’s been a really bad flu season. We’ve had a lot of students out and I’ve been sick a lot myself, so this will be great,” said shopper Nicole Martello.

This biology teacher’s reaction was a bit more reserved.

“It’s a little worrisome because there are some concerns prescribing antibiotics and how it can create more powerful bacterial infections that we have trouble taking care of that required hospitalization,” said Rick Owczarzak. “I don’t necessarily think it will cause people to prescribe it more or customers to get it more, but it’s interesting.”

Wegmans says it will offer the free prescription in all 72 of its stores through the end of March. Wegmans expects the program will save customers about a million dollars. The company would not say how much the giveaway will cost Wegmans.

“Is this a ploy to get more people to come into the store? To gain more customers? Is that a part of it?” our reporter asked.

“No, it’s really just being a privately held family owned company. We can kinda look past the short term profits for the betterment of the community,” said Germick.

The why didn’t matter to most customers because the price is right.

“I’m just happy that they company’s doing it. I don’t know why they’re doing it, but I’m glad they are,” said Martello.

“I suppose it’s always worth trying something new before you weigh in on the judgment of it,” Owczarzak said.