Henry Schein Cares Donates Flu Vaccine for Vaccination of Dental Team Members Participating in ADA Annual Session

MELVILLE, N.Y., Oct. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Henry Schein, Inc. (NASDAQ: HSIC), the largest provider of health care products and services to office-based practitioners, announced today its donation of 1,300 doses of flu vaccine to the American Dental Association (ADA) Annual Session taking place this week in Las Vegas, Nev.  The donation was made through the Company's global corporate social responsibility program, Henry Schein Cares.  

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The donated flu vaccines are being offered to dental team members who participate in the Health Screening Program at the ADA Annual Session, which helps dentists monitor and protect their health while making their offices safer for the dental team and patients. 

"Henry Schein Cares is pleased to 'help health happen' by promoting the health of dental team members through our donation of flu vaccine to this year's ADA Annual Session," said Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Henry Schein, Inc.  "By receiving this vaccination, dental team members not only protect their own personal health, but also the health of their patients, families and co-workers."

According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, more than 200,000 Americans are hospitalized and about 36,000 die from influenza-related complications each year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommend that while everyone should get a flu vaccine each flu season, it is especially important that certain people get vaccinated including pregnant women; children younger than 5, and especially children between 6 months and 2 years of age; people 50 years of age and older; people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions; people who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities; and people who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including health care providers, household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu, and household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age.

Despite the CDC's recommendation that all health care providers get an annual flu vaccine, health care providers remain an under-vaccinated group, with fewer than half of health care workers reporting getting vaccinated.  The National Influenza Vaccine Summit notes that the vaccination of health care providers has been shown to reduce influenza infection and absenteeism among health care providers, prevent mortality in their patients, and result in financial savings to sponsoring health institutions.

"The ADA is grateful to Henry Schein for the Company's generous donation of the flu vaccine for dental team members at our Annual Meeting through Henry Schein Cares," said William R. Calnon, D.D.S., president of the ADA, "This donation underscores the shared commitment of the ADA and Henry Schein to promoting the health and well-being of ADA's members, and the importance of vaccination of dental team members to not only their own health, but their patients as well."

Henry Schein, a leading distributor of influenza vaccine, has been involved in national influenza vaccine policy efforts for more than a decade.  Henry Schein is an active member of the National Influenza Vaccine Summit, an entity with over 400 members who represent over 100 public and private organizations with an interest in addressing and resolving influenza and influenza vaccine issues.  The National Influenza Vaccine Summit is co-sponsored by the American Medical Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

About Henry Schein Cares

Henry Schein Cares, Henry Schein's global corporate social responsibility program, enhances access to health care for underserved and at-risk communities around the world.

Activities supported by Henry Schein Cares focus on three main areas:  advancing wellness, building capacity in the delivery of health care services, and assisting in emergency preparedness and relief.  Firmly rooted in a deep commitment to social responsibility and the concept of enlightened self-interest championed by Benjamin Franklin, the philosophy behind Henry Schein Cares is a vision of "doing well by doing good."  Through the work of Henry Schein Cares to enhance access to care for those in need, the Company believes that it is furthering its long-term success.

About Henry Schein, Inc.

Henry Schein, Inc. (NASDAQ: HSIC), the largest provider of health care products and services to office-based practitioners, is a Fortune 500® company and a member of the NASDAQ 100® Index.  The Company is recognized for its excellent customer service and highly competitive prices.  Henry Schein's five businesses – Dental, Medical, Animal Health, International, and Technology – serve more than 700,000 customers worldwide, including dental practitioners and laboratories, physician practices, and animal health practices, as well as government and other institutions. 

The Company operates through a centralized and automated distribution network, which provides customers in more than 200 countries with a comprehensive selection of more than 90,000 national and Henry Schein private-brand products in stock, as well as more than 100,000 additional products available as special-order items.  Henry Schein also provides exclusive, innovative technology offerings for dental, medical, and veterinary professionals, including value-added practice management software and electronic health record solutions.

Headquartered in Melville, N.Y., Henry Schein employs more than 14,000 people and has operations or affiliates in 25 countries.  The Company's net sales reached a record $7.5 billion in 2010.  For more information, visit the Henry Schein Web site at www.henryschein.com.

SOURCE Henry Schein, Inc.