New York City Mayor Bloomberg and Health Commissioner Farley Receive Flu Shot at Duane Reade Pharmacy, Highlight Importance of Flu Preparedness

NEW YORK, Oct. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas A. Farley received their seasonal flu vaccine this morning at a Duane Reade pharmacy (NYSE: WAG) (NASDAQ: WAG) at 3225 Third Ave., Bronx, N.Y., demonstrating the importance of taking steps to prevent the spread of the flu virus. Duane Reade is part of the Walgreens family of companies.

"Every year, New Yorkers lose their lives to the flu, and a flu shot is the single most important protection against getting sick and spreading the flu to others," said Mayor Bloomberg. "I urge everyone to go to their doctor, local health clinic or pharmacy and get a flu shot as soon as they can."

Walgreens market vice president Jeff Koziel said, "A perfect example of preventive care is getting your annual flu shot to protect yourself and your loved ones. And no one makes it easier to get immunized in New York City than Duane Reade and Walgreens. Flu shots are available at our pharmacies daily with no appointment necessary during all pharmacy hours. We appreciate Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Farley recognizing the important role of community pharmacists in health care."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) again recommends a flu shot for everyone over the age of six months and recommends vaccination every season in order to be fully-protected against influenza.

Flu shots are covered under Medicare Part B as well as most insurance plans. All Duane Reade and Walgreens pharmacies also offer Fluzone HD, a high-dose influenza vaccine for those over age 65 and other qualified individuals.

The typical flu season coincides with the busiest travel period of the year, and last season that spelled trouble for more than 3 million U.S. vacationers whose trips were interrupted by flu-related illness, as the Walgreens Flu Impact Report suggests. The findings in the survey examining the effects of influenza on people's everyday lives show how the flu affected Americans' vacations, holidays, social engagements, sporting events and more.

Last flu season, based on survey projections, millions of life's special events may have been impacted, including:

• more than 600,000 graduations missed
• more than 1 million weddings not attended
• more than 3 million vacations canceled or interrupted
• nearly 5 million holiday celebrations missed
• more than 5 million sporting events missed

The Walgreens survey was fielded Sept. 1-8, 2011, to a Vision Critical Springboard America panel to a nationally representative sample of 1,200 Americans age 18 or over. Flu Impact Report results were weighted on key demographics to allow projection of results to the entire U.S. adult population. Results are based on self-reported instances of the flu and flu-like symptoms. Projections incorporate the latest data available for average compensation and hours worked from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, population data and projections from the United States Census and compared against beta Flu Work Loss models developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

About Walgreens

Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2011 sales of $72 billion. The company operates 7,779 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 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 and wellness centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.

SOURCE Walgreens