DEERFIELD, Ill., July 16, 2012 - As one in three consumers say they plan to start back-to-school shopping in July1, parents can think Walgreens (NYSE: WAG) (NASDAQ: WAG) for supplies, school physicals and immunizations as more states require certain immunizations before the start of the school year.
“Walgreens is a convenient and affordable shopping destination for more than the school supply list,” said Mark Wagner, Walgreens president of operations and community management. “On top of must-have items including binders, lunchtime snacks and even tech gear, our locations offer important health services, great for parents short on time, to help ensure their children are up-to-date on vaccines and physicals before the first school bell rings.”
Immunizations-trained Walgreens pharmacists in select states are able to administer a number of CDC-recommended immunizations. Take Care Health Systems, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Walgreens and the nation’s largest and most comprehensive manager of convenient care clinics and worksite health and wellness centers, offer back-to-school and sports physicals as well as immunizations at Take Care Clinics nationwide. The physicals are administered by board certified nurse practitioners and physician assistants and are available for $39 through September 30, 2012.
Immunizations
Students in select states are required to receive certain immunizations to prevent against meningitis, a serious bacterial illness (meningococcal vaccine), and whooping cough, a highly-contagious respiratory infection (tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis-Tdap vaccine). Department of Health, school and college mandates for both vaccines exist in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.
- Immunizations are available daily with no appointment necessary at select Walgreens and Take Care Clinic locations
- Vaccines may be covered by insurance plans. Patients are encouraged to check with their insurance provider for coverage details.
Physicals
Back-to-school and sports physicals conducted at Take Care Clinics are a holistic exam of the physical and mental well-being of a student. During the physical, a Take Care Health provider will assess a student’s height, weight, body mass index, vision and other information while also providing counseling on certain immunizations and anticipatory guidance to parents regarding their child’s health. State requirements for back-to-school physicals vary. Parents and guardians can talk to a school official or a Take Care Health professional to discuss what’s appropriate for their child.
- Take Care Clinics are professional health care centers located at more than 360 select Walgreens drugstores across the country and offer walk-in and appointment availability.
- Board-certified family nurse practitioners and physician assistants treat patients 18 months and older for common illnesses, offer preventive services and are licensed to write prescriptions, when necessary, that can be filled at the patient’s pharmacy of choice.
Back to School Basics
From art supplies, themed notebooks and lunch containers, to crayons and USB connector cables, Walgreens provides greater access and affordability to items that can help students return to school prepared. New this year, craft duct tape to provide students colorful ways to personalize any book covers, folders and lunch boxes. With short lines and ample parking, customers can shop with convenience.
- Prominent display of school supply lists for area schools at most locations plus in-store signage to help on-the-go shoppers easily and quickly identify products by category
- Variety of personal care items including vitamins for children, toiletries and beauty products
- Lunchtime snacks, granola bars and juice packs
To find out more about back-to-school supplies, immunizations and physicals, visit walgreens.com/backtoschool.
About Walgreens
As the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2011 sales of $72 billion, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) vision is to become America’s first choice for health and daily living. 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. The company operates 7,907 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. 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.
1 PriceGrabber.com Back-to-School Shopping Survey 1 (May 22, 2012 – June 5, 2012)
Walgreens
Vivika Panagiotakakos, (847) 315-2923
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