Routine vaccinations can help prevent illnesses ahead of flu season

DEERFIELD, Ill.– Walgreens announced on Monday  the company is resuming immunization services with additional safety measures in place for pharmacy team members and patients. The changes follow recently updated U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and come ahead of flu season, which health officials warn may coincide with a second wave of COVID-19.

“Immunizations are critical to ensuring the health of our communities from vaccine-preventable illness and reducing the strain on our healthcare system, which is even more important during the pandemic,” said Dr. Kevin Ban, chief medical officer, Walgreens. “As highly accessible providers of care in communities across the country, Walgreens pharmacists are available to safely administer immunizations to help patients protect themselves, their loved ones, and their communities from vaccine preventable diseases.”

Routine immunizations are even more important in a COVID-19 environment to help protect at-risk populations and reduce the overall burden of respiratory illnesses on the healthcare system. At the height of shelter-in-place orders across the country, Walgreens followed CDC guidelines to postpone all non-urgent clinical preventive services such as immunizations.

Stay up-to-date on vaccines while staying safe

Throughout the pandemic, Walgreens continues to meet or exceed CDC guidelines for safety and precautions. Pharmacy areas maintain enhanced cleaning regimens, social distancing protocols and plexiglass shields at registers. Key measures Walgreens is implementing to ensure the safe administration of immunizations for our patients and pharmacy team members include:

• All pharmacy team members are required to wear disposable facemasks at all times, including while administering immunizations, and follow proper glove and handwashing procedures that are standard for vaccination administration.
• As an additional safety measure, all pharmacy team members administering immunizations are receiving plastic face shields to be used during immunizations for eye protection.
• Patients entering a pharmacy are encouraged to wear a face covering to protect others, and those who do not have one will be provided a facemask prior to receiving immunizations.
• At least six feet of distance is maintained between pharmacy waiting area chairs where patients may choose to complete paperwork and wait for their immunization or appointment.

Walgreens pharmacists have a history of providing immunizations to patients in communities across the country, having administered more than 60 million vaccines in the U.S. since 2010. As a highly accessible healthcare resource in communities, pharmacists are playing an even bigger role as part of patient care teams and can help protect communities from vaccine-preventable illnesses and improve health outcomes. As part of efforts to provide greater access to immunizations, since 2013 Walgreens has partnered with the United Nations Foundation for Get a Shot. Give a Shot. to provide 50 million lifesaving vaccines to children around the world.

Walgreens accepts walk-ins, or patients may schedule an appointment in advance online.