OREANDA-NEWS. August 14, 2015. Flu shots are now available daily with no appointment necessary at all Walgreens pharmacies and Healthcare Clinics nationwide, and Duane Reade pharmacies in New York, the company announced today.

Flu shots are offered on a walk-in basis during all pharmacy and clinic hours while an immunizing health professional is on duty, including evenings, overnights at 24-hour pharmacy locations, weekends and holidays1. Age restrictions vary by state at Walgreens pharmacies, while Healthcare Clinics can provide immunizations for patients age 2 and older.

With millions of newly insured Americans having gained coverage the past two years, more than 90 percent of those receiving flu shots at Walgreens points of care now have their immunization covered under some form of insurance, often with no co-pay or other out-of-pocket cost. Flu shots are covered for eligible patients under Medicare Part B as well as a vast majority of insurance plans.

“For nearly a decade, Walgreens has been administering flu shots to help protect our patients, customers and those around them throughout the flu season,” said Richard Ashworth, Walgreens president of pharmacy and retail operations. “With unprecedented convenience and broader coverage than ever before from health plans and insurers, it’s not only the most important preventive measure you can take for flu season, it’s also now one of the easiest.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends an annual flu shot for everyone over the age of 6 months as soon as the vaccine becomes available.

Walgreens points of care this season will offer a number of vaccine options that may include trivalent flu vaccine, a needle-free nasal alternative, a high-dose influenza vaccine for those over age 65 and a quadrivalent vaccine which protects against four strains of influenza.

Walgreens Flu Index recaps areas hardest hit by flu last season

The Walgreens Flu Index, a weekly report that provides state- and market-specific information regarding flu activity, last season also listed the areas hardest hit by flu in a season-ending report.

According to the Index, the states with the highest rates of influenza were Oklahoma, Texas, Mississippi, Texas and Tennessee. Portland, Ore., Hartford, Conn. and Boston were the markets with the least amount of flu activity. The top markets and states for flu activity were:

Top 10 DMAs with Flu Activity*

  1. Oklahoma City, Okla.
  2. Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen, Texas
  3. Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
  4. Jackson, Miss.
  5. Fort Smith-Fayetteville, Ark.
  6. Knoxville, Tenn.
  7. Austin, Texas
  8. Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Ark.
  9. Chattanooga, Tenn.
  10. Tulsa, Okla.

Top 10 States with Flu Activity*

  1. Oklahoma
  2. Arkansas
  3. Mississippi
  4. Texas
  5. Tennessee
  6. Louisiana
  7. Alabama
  8. Kentucky
  9. Nebraska
  10. South Carolina

*Aggregate data from November 2014 through February 2015

In addition to the top markets, the season-ending Index also showed the bottom 10, suggesting successful prevention efforts in preparation for, and during flu season in these communities, which experienced the lowest levels of influenza.

Markets with Least Flu Activity*

  1. Portland, Ore.
  2. Hartford-New Haven, Conn.
  3. Boston, Mass.
  4. Fresno-Visalia, Calif.
  5. Sacramento, Calif.
  6. Tucson, Ariz.
  7. Buffalo, N.Y.
  8. Providence, R.I.
  9. Seattle-Tacoma, Wash.
  10. Los Angeles

*Aggregate data from November 2014 through February 2015

Methodology

The Walgreens Flu Index is compiled using retail prescription data for antiviral medications used to treat influenza across Walgreens locations nationwide. The data is analyzed at state and geographic market levels to measure absolute impact and incremental change of antiviral medications on a per store average basis, and does not include markets in which Walgreens has fewer than 20 retail locations.

The Flu Index is not intended to illustrate levels or severity of flu activity, but rather, illustrate which populations are experiencing the highest incidence of flu.

About Walgreens

Walgreens (www.walgreens.com), the nation's largest drugstore chain, is included in the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. More than 8 million customers interact with Walgreens each day in communities across America, using the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice. Walgreens operates 8,240 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Walgreens digital business includes Walgreens.com, drugstore.com, Beauty.com, SkinStore.com and VisionDirect.com. Walgreens also manages more than 400 Healthcare Clinic and provider practice locations around the country.

1 Subject to availability, state age and health-related restrictions apply. See pharmacy for details.