DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With shingles vaccine widely reported to be in short supply from some health care providers, Walgreens (NYSE, NASDAQ: WAG) has expanded its availability of Zostavax – a one-time vaccine that can reduce the risk of shingles in individuals 60 years of age and older – and is now offering shingles vaccinations daily at more than 2,000 Walgreens stores and Take Care Clinics.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends Zostavax for those over the age of 60 to help reduce the risk of shingles.
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. No appointment is necessary. Shingles vaccinations are covered under Medicare Part D and may also be covered under many other insurance plans.
“Our pharmacists, Take Care Clinic nurse practitioners and other health care professionals have been instrumental in creating a growing awareness of the benefits of the shingles vaccine, and in educating the public on why it’s particularly important for those over 60,” said Kermit Crawford, Walgreens president of pharmacy services. “Walgreens network of more than 26,000 certified 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 nearly one-third of Americans will develop shingles at some point, with more than 1 million people in the U.S. developing the painful skin rash or nerve disease each year. Shingles can affect anyone who has had chicken pox, however it is most common in people 50 years of age and older.
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.