Walgreens Expands Shingles Vaccine Availability to More than 2,000 Stores and Take Care Clinics
02.14.11
—Every day availability at select stores in 45 states and all clinics comes as CDC-recommended vaccine reported in short supply—
DEERFIELD, Ill — February 14, 2011 — Following new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations
that Americans over 60 years old get vaccinated to prevent shingles, Walgreens (NYSE, NASDAQ: WAG) has expanded its
availability of Zostavax – a one-time vaccine that can reduce the risk of shingles - to more than 2,000 Walgreens stores
and Take Care Clinics. With the vaccine currently reported to be in short supply, Walgreens is offering shingles
vaccinations daily with no appointment necessary at these locations.
To find the nearest Walgreens or Take Care Clinic offering Zostavax, patients can call 1-800-WALGREENS or visit the
Walgreens store locator online at www.walgreens.com/findastore
and check the box for shingles vaccinations. Shingles vaccinations
are covered under Medicare Part D and may also be covered under a number of other insurance plans.
“With new CDC recommendations, we’re starting to see a growing awareness of the benefits of the shingles vaccine and
why it’s particularly important for those over 60,” said Kermit Crawford, Walgreens president of pharmacy services.
“Walgreens network of more than 26,000 immunizers has demonstrated our unique capabilities to provide a wide range of
CDC-recommended vaccinations when it’s most convenient for our patients.”
The CDC estimates more than 1 million Americans each year will develop shingles, a painful skin rash or nerve disease
that can affect anyone who has had chickenpox. It is most common in people 50 years of age and older.
Clinical trials have shown the shingles vaccine can reduce the risk of shingles by 55 percent.
About Walgreens
Walgreens (www.walgreens.com)
is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2010 sales of $67 billion. The company operates 7,670 drugstores in all
50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. 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 pharmacy benefit solutions and 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.
Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health
centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.
Key Contact:
Jim Cohn
847-315-2950
jim.cohn@walgreens.com