Walgreens Collaborates with Alaska Department of Health and Social Services to Help Protect Infants against Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Walgreens (NYSE: WAG) (Nasdaq: WAG) today announced a tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap) vaccination voucher program in collaboration with the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, to help protect against pertussis (whooping cough). Vouchers are available to Alaskans age 10 and older and can be redeemed at any of Walgreens six Anchorage area locations, and are being offered as reported cases of whooping cough in Alaska are higher than past years1.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), whooping cough is a highly contagious, vaccine preventable, respiratory tract infection primarily affecting young children. Teens, and also adults whose immunity may have weakened, are also at risk and may infect infants if in close contact. The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services urges individuals who are not up-to-date with the Tdap vaccine to get vaccinated to help protect infants who can be most severely impacted by whooping cough.

“We’re proud to partner with the Department of Health and Social Services on this important initiative to help protect more people, and an important segment of our population, from whooping cough,” said Justin Coyle, Alaska market pharmacy director for Walgreens. “Walgreens pharmacists continue to play an important role in improving immunization rates and delivering other preventive services to help Alaskans get, stay and live well.”

Walgreens pharmacists in Alaska can administer immunizations to anyone age 10 and older.

The CDC recommends the Tdap vaccine for the following groups2:

  • Pregnant women and infants 6 weeks and older
  • All adults who provide care to infants and adults living in a household with an infant, including adults age 65 and older
  • Preadolescents (ages 7-10 years) who are not up to date on pertussis vaccinations and who are living in a household with an infant

Vaccines are subject to availability. Age, state and health-related restrictions may apply. To download the Tdap shot voucher visit, www.epi.alaska.gov. To find the nearest Walgreens, residents can call 1-800-WALGREENS or visit www.walgreens.com.

About Walgreens

As the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2013 sales of $72 billion, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) vision is to be the first choice in health and daily living for everyone in America, and beyond. Each day, in communities across America, more than 8 million customers interact with Walgreens using the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice. Walgreens scope of pharmacy services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility and mail service, along with online and mobile 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 8,217 drugstores 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. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that manages more than 400 in-store convenient care clinics throughout the country.

1 State of Alaska, Department of Health and Social Services

2 www.cdc.gov

Contacts:

Walgreens
Markeisha Marshall, 847-315-2923
http://news.walgreens.com
@WalgreensNews
facebook.com/Walgreens

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