All Walgreens and Healthcare Clinic Locations Across Ohio Now Offering MMR Vaccinations in Response to Executive Order

Walgreens joins state health officials in providing measles information and services at nearly 300 convenient points of care statewide

DEERFIELD, Ill., June 18, 2014 – All of the more than 250 Walgreens pharmacies and 35 Healthcare Clinic at select Walgreens throughout Ohio are now offering MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccinations daily with no appointment necessary, in response to this week’s executive order from Gov. Kasich enabling pharmacists to administer the vaccine to those age 18 and over. Healthcare Clinics can administer MMR vaccinations to patients age seven and older. The vaccinations are widely covered by most insurance plans.

The Ohio Department of Health currently reports 297 measles cases in the state. There have been 397 cases reported nationwide in 2014, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, marking a 20-year high. Health officials are urging Americans – especially parents with young children, international travelers and those unsure about their vaccination history to make sure vaccination records are up to date.

“Our pharmacists and Healthcare Clinic nurse practitioners are highly trained vaccination experts, and Walgreens responded quickly to the need for more vaccination resources as measles cases have started to spread to different parts of the state,” said Nick Barsan, Walgreens market pharmacy director, Ohio. “The measles virus is highly contagious and the vaccine is the best protection people can get. Anyone unsure about their vaccination history, especially as it relates to measles or mumps, should talk to their pharmacist or physician as soon as possible.”

In addition to the measles outbreak, the Department of Health is also reporting more than 400 probable and confirmed cases of mumps in Ohio.

Vaccinations are available during all Walgreens pharmacy and Healthcare Clinic hours.

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, Walgreens provides more than 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 8,216 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers, provider practices, and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 750 locations throughout the country.

SOURCE: Walgreens