New York City Mayor Bloomberg and Health Commissioner Farley
Receive Flu Shot at Duane Reade Pharmacy, Highlight Importance of
Flu Preparedness
NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- New York City
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and
Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas A.
Farley received their seasonal flu vaccination this morning
at a Duane Reade pharmacy
(NYSE:WAG) at 100 Broadway, New York
City, demonstrating the importance of taking proactive steps
to prevent the spread of influenza. Duane
Reade is part of the Walgreens family of companies.
"We are proud to have Mayor Bloomberg reinforce to all New
Yorkers the need for protection and prevention with his flu shot.
Through greater access to immunizations across our network of
Duane Reade and Walgreens pharmacies
throughout New York we are helping
more customers get, stay and live well," said Jeff Koziel, Walgreens market vice
president. "For those who have not gotten a flu shot yet, it
is prime time for prevention with changes in the weather, the
upcoming holiday travel season and many other ways in which germs
and viruses spread this time of year."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) again
recommends this year that everyone over the age of six months get a
flu shot. Vaccination is recommended every season as the best
protection against influenza. Walgreens and Duane Reade pharmacists in New York can administer flu shots to those age
18 and over.
"Getting the flu is no fun at all, and it can even be deadly,"
said Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.
"Every year, too many New Yorkers lose their lives to
influenza and the flu vaccine is the single most important
protection against getting sick and spreading the flu to others. I
urge everyone to go to their doctor, local health clinic or
pharmacy and get a flu vaccine as soon as they can."
Flu shots are covered under Medicare Part B as well as many
insurance plans. All Walgreens points of care also offer Fluzone
HD, a high-dose influenza vaccine for those over age 65, and all
pharmacies offer Fluzone Intradermal, a shot administered with a
smaller needle that is injected into the skin instead of the
muscle.
New this season, Walgreens and Duane
Reade pharmacies are also offering a free comprehensive
immunization assessment1 with every flu shot. The
assessment can help patients determine which other immunizations
they may need based upon current CDC recommendations.
A recent Walgreens study2 found that more than 40
percent of U.S. adults surveyed were unaware of the latest
government-recommended vaccinations for their age and health
condition. More than half of those surveyed, 53 percent, also said
they are not diligent about regular check-ups with their primary
care physician.
New Vaccine for This Flu Season
Each year, seasonal flu vaccine is produced to protect against
the three viruses or flu strains that research indicates will be
most prevalent. There is a new vaccine for this season, as the
2012-13 vaccine includes H1N1, as well as H3N2 and a B virus which
are different from those recommended for the Northern Hemisphere
last season.
As community pharmacy and retail clinics have played an integral
role in providing more convenient access to flu shots and other
immunizations in recent years, Walgreens data from the 2010-2011
flu season shows that nearly one-third (32 percent) of the more
than 6.3 million people who received flu shots, as well as those
for pneumonia, shingles and meningitis at Walgreens and Take Care
Clinics, had them administered during off-hours, including evening,
holiday or weekend.
About Duane Reade
Founded in 1960, Duane Reade is the
largest drug store chain in New York
City. In keeping with the company's brand vision of New York
Living Made Easy, Duane Reade
provides New Yorkers with prescriptions, health products and
services, beauty products and services, food and convenience items
for daily life in the City...everything for "How I Feel", "How I
Look", and "What I Need Now". The company operates 250+ stores
throughout the metropolitan New
York region. Duane Reade is
part of the Walgreens family of companies, the nation's largest
drugstore chain with more than 7,900 stores in all 50 states, the
District of Columbia and
Puerto Rico.
About Walgreens
As the nation's largest
drugstore chain with fiscal 2012 sales of $72 billion, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) vision
is to become America's first choice for health and daily living.
Each day, Walgreens provides nearly 6 million customers the most
convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and
trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and
advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of pharmacy
services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility and
mail service, along with respiratory services. These services
improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including
employers, managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy
benefit managers and the public sector. The company operates 7,944
drugstores in all 50 states, the District
of Columbia and Puerto
Rico. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary
that is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite
health and wellness centers and in-store convenient care clinics,
with more than 700 locations throughout the country.
1 The assessment is not for diagnostic or treatment
purposes. Information provided by Walgreens does not constitute
medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See pharmacy for
details.
2 Walgreens immunizations awareness survey,
April 2012
SOURCE Duane Reade