All 7,500 Walgreens Stores, Including Take Care Clinics and Duane Reade, Offering Flu Shots Daily During Nearly All Pharmacy and Clinic Hours with…

All 7,500 Walgreens Stores, Including Take Care Clinics and Duane Reade, Offering Flu Shots Daily During Nearly All Pharmacy and Clinic Hours with Walk-ins Welcome

Walgreens (NYSE: WAG)(NASDAQ: WAG), the nation's largest retail provider of flu immunization services, announced details of the most comprehensive flu shot program in the U.S (see also Walgreens).

Walgreens is offering unprecedented access to flu shots, with immunizations now available at every Walgreens pharmacy and Take Care Clinic nationwide, every day, during nearly all pharmacy and clinic hours - with no appointment necessary. Most New York City-area Duane Reade pharmacies are also now offering flu shots daily, with all Duane Reade stores expected to be offering them during all pharmacy hours by September. State, age and health condition-related restrictions may apply.

Only one flu shot is required this season, as the 2010-2011 flu vaccine will protect against H1N1 as well as two other seasonal flu viruses - an influenza B and H3N2 virus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a flu shot for everyone over the age of six months.

"We encourage everyone to follow the CDC's recommendations, and with flu shots available during nearly all pharmacy and clinic hours at Walgreens, it's never been easier, never more convenient and never more accessible," said Walgreens President and CEO Greg Wasson. "Our expansive network of 25,000 immunizers and other health care professionals are there when you need us. By providing quality, affordable, preventive health care services like flu shots in communities across America, we'll again play an important role in helping people stay well throughout the flu season." Direct Medical Billing and Other Enhancements New This Season Walgreens is offering a new, direct medical billing option through several insurance carriers, including national agreements with UnitedHealthcare and CIGNA. The option allows patients with these and other select plans to have a flu shot seamlessly billed to their insurance provider.

Regionally, Walgreens offers direct medical billing through SummaCare in Ohio, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Walgreens currently offers these billing options through Walgreens pharmacies and Take Care Clinics.