Walgreens Donates Flu Shots To Uninsured Americans

A couple of staff members, including Dr. Steve Salvatore are getting seasonal flu shots live on the show. Due to bigger flu concerns this year, the CDC moved up the date for seasonal flu shots by one month vs. last year.

I know all the news is on swine flu, but the H1N1 flu shots will not be available nationwide until at least Oct. 15, and people should not forget to get seasonal flu shots. The CDC says that roughly 36,000 people die each year from the seasonal flu.

Also, Walgreens will be donating $1 million in seasonal flu vaccines to uninsured adults in the U.S. They are rolling out the “Arm Yourself for the Ones You Love” campaign on Sept. 1 that encourages people to get the seasonal flu shot. Walgreens has the largest retail network of certified immunizers in the U.S. with more than 16,000 health care professionals including pharmacists, nurse practitioners and physicians assistants.

• Walgreens will begin offering seasonal flu shots on Sept. 1 at more than 7,000 points of care nationwide, including nearly all of its stores in 50 states and almost 350 in-store Take Care Clinics.

• With more than 16,000 pharmacists, nurse practitioners and physician assistants licensed or certified to provide flu shots, Walgreens has the largest retail network of immunizers in the U.S. and can provide seasonal flu shots most hours its pharmacies and Take Care Clinics are open.

• Beginning Sept. 8 through Sept. 30, all clinics and Walgreens pharmacies will have immunizing pharmacists or nurse practitioners on staff from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, offering shots on a walk-in basis or by appointment for $24.99. Shots are available outside those hours if an immunizing pharmacist or nurse practitioner is on duty.

• A new Walgreens survey found that more consumers, 50 percent, plan to get a seasonal flu shot this year, up from 43 percent who say they got one last season. Additionally, 27 percent say they are more concerned about getting the flu than they were a year ago .

• An integral part of the network includes Take Care Clinics at select Walgreens stores, which have board-certified nurse practitioners and physician assistants on staff seven days a week, including extended evening and weekend hours, to administer shots and other vaccines such as PPV (pneumonia). No appointment is necessary.

• Walgreens is providing $1 million worth of seasonal flu shots to uninsured adults. Shots will be distributed in the form of vouchers, which will go to eligible consumers who visit one of nine Wellness Tour bus locations in select markets across the continental U.S. Vouchers are available on a first come, first serve basis while supplies last. Those uninsured wishing to find dates and the nearest Wellness Tour location are asked to call 1-866-484-TOUR or visit www.aarpwalgreens.com/tour.

For Walgreens store locations and pharmacy hours, call 1-800-WALGREENS or visit www.walgreens.com/flu.