DEERFIELD, Ill., April 23, 2012 - U.S. health officials have pointed to recent outbreaks of whooping cough, the worst in decades in many parts of the country, as just one example that underscores the need for adults to be vaccinated against highly-contagious diseases. However, a Walgreens (NYSE: WAG)(NASDAQ: WAG) study released today shows nearly half of U.S. adults (42 percent) surveyed are unaware of government-recommended vaccinations for their age and health condition. The survey also reveals that more than half of respondents (53 percent) are not diligent about regular check-ups with their primary care physician.
In addition to those unaware of the latest recommendations, another third (36 percent) believe they have knowledge of some, but not all. These groups combined represent three-fourths of all respondents, an overwhelming majority (71 percent) of whom say they would be interested to know what vaccinations are currently recommended for them.
“If people aren’t going to the doctor or talking regularly with a pharmacist, nurse practitioner or other health care professional, it would be difficult to know what immunizations they may be due or overdue for,” said Jeff Kang, Walgreens senior vice president of pharmacy, health and wellness services and solutions. “This also shows the opportunity to educate consumers because while many are interested in knowing, they just aren’t getting this type of health information.”
The Walgreens survey shows that for people who do know all or some of the current vaccine recommendations, more than two-thirds (71 percent) say they are also up-to-date with their vaccination schedule.
The survey further looks at the disease or illness that concerns respondents the most, and how often that concern leads to action in the form of vaccination to prevent or protect against it. Flu ranked highest for concern, with 27 percent worried about it, three-fourths of whom said they’ve received a flu shot as a preventive measure. Other diseases or illnesses ranking high include:
- Pneumonia (13 percent) – 51 percent of whom have been vaccinated
- Shingles (10 percent) – 22 percent have been vaccinated
- Hepatitis (8 percent) – 43 percent have been vaccinated
Meningitis, whooping cough and measles/mumps were also mentioned. Thirty percent of respondents indicated no concern about any of the above.
Lack of Education the Main Reason for Skipping Vaccinations
For those who indicated concern over contracting any of the vaccine-preventable diseases but have yet to be immunized, not knowing enough about the vaccine was the most common response for their reason why.
Meningitis was highest, as 67 percent said they didn’t have enough information to get the vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says meningitis places adolescents at higher risk than any other age group, yet just over half of all U.S. teens receive the meningococcal vaccine.
Lack of knowledge was also the main deterrent for not receiving the following vaccinations:
- Pneumonia – 48 percent
- Shingles – 39 percent
- Hepatitis – 30 percent
By contrast, data suggest strong awareness of immunizations for vaccine-preventable diseases among young children, with immunization rates recently reported at greater than 90 percent in the U.S.1 by the CDC.
According to a February CDC report, at least 45,000 American adults die each year of diseases that could be prevented by vaccines. By comparison, the CDC reports that fewer than 1,000 Americans die of childhood diseases that are vaccine-preventable.
“Awareness and education are the first steps in helping people understand the importance of preventive health and immunizations are a big part of that,” Kang said. “These services are now widely covered by insurers. With an expansive network of immunizing pharmacists and nurse practitioners in Walgreens stores, we’re providing greater access to vaccinations and other health care services and bridging a critical gap in health care today. More than 60 percent of Take Care Clinic patients don’t have a primary care physician, yet do have health insurance.”
Many Walgreens and all Take Care Clinics offer a wide range of CDC-recommended immunizations, including: flu, pneumonia, Zostavax (shingles), Tdap (whooping cough), Td (tetanus/diphtheria), meningitis, varicella (chicken pox), hepatitis A/B, MMR and many others. State, age and health condition-related restrictions may apply. Walgreens has more than 26,000 pharmacists licensed or certified to administer immunizations daily at more than 7,800 points of care nationwide. The nearest location offering select immunizations can be found through the store locator on Walgreens.com.
National Health Organizations Stress the Importance of Immunizations
The majority of people who die each year from vaccine-preventable diseases in the U.S. are adults, approximately 42,000 annually, according to Healthy People 2020 (www.healthypeople.gov/2020), a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services initiative.
In its most recent Health Care Trends Report, the American Medical Association states that the lack of public awareness regarding the importance of immunization “poses a significant public health risk for patients and their families.”
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which provides guidance to the CDC and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding the control of vaccine-preventable diseases, lists the latest recommendations on its website, at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/acip/.
Methodology
The general population survey of 1,035 adults over age 18 was conducted online through Omnibus Oct. 1-4, 2011
About Walgreens
Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2011 sales of $72 billion. The company operates 7,847 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.
1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Immunization Survey – Sept. 2011
Walgreen Co. Corporate Communications
Jim Cohn, (847) 315-2950
http://news.walgreens.com