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Take Care Health Clinics(SM) Offer HPV Vaccine in Chicagoland

Posted on: Tuesday, 4 September 2007, 09:09 CDT

GARDASIL, the first vaccine to help protect against cervical cancer and other diseases caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), is now available at 20 Chicagoland Take Care Health ClinicsSM located inside Walgreens drugstores.

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted virus in the United States, with more than 20 million people infected as of 2005 and 6.2 million more infected every year. When the virus is active, it can develop into cervical cancer and other conditions depending on the HPV type. GARDASIL is effective in preventing four strains of HPV, including two that cause about 70 percent of cervical cancer.

"The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2007 more than 11,000 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer and approximately 3,600 will die from it in the U.S.," said Sandra F. Ryan, Take Care Health Chief Nurse Practitioner Officer. "By giving consumers a choice to receive the HPV vaccine at a Take Care Health ClinicSM in a professional, convenient setting, we hope to increase access to high-quality, affordable health care and to lead in the fight against cervical cancer in Chicago."

GARDASIL is a three-dose series vaccine administered over six months. The second and third doses should be given at two and six months (respectively) after the first dose. The HPV vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines. GARDASIL is not recommended for pregnant women.

GARDASIL is available to females ages 11-26 at all 20 Take Care Health ClinicsSM in the Chicago area. Clinics do not require appointments and are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. They are located inside the following Walgreens drugstores:

Arlington Heights - 3 E. Golf Road

Mt. Prospect - 1701 E. Kensington Road

Aurora - 1207 N. Randall Road

Naperville - 3035 Book Road

Elk Grove Village - 930 Elk Grove Town Center

Northfield - 1825 Willow Road

Hanover Park -- 5500 County Farm Road

Plainfield - 24801 West 135th St.

Joliet - 1801 Ingalls Ave.

Plainfield - 4822 Caton Farm Road

Lake Zurich - 910 N. Rand Road

River Forest - 7251 West Lake St.

Libertyville - 1770 North Milwaukee Ave.

Romeoville - 498 North Weber Road

Mokena - 20002 S Wolf Road

St. Charles - 3351 West Main St.

Montgomery - 1799 Douglas Road

Villa Park - 200 E Roosevelt Road

Morton Grove - 9301 Waukegan Road

Yorkville - 100 West Veterans Pkwy. (Rte 34)

Not all insurance plans cover the GARDASIL vaccine and levels of coverage can vary within plans. If a patient is planning to submit payment for the vaccine through insurance, he or she MUST first call 1-866-TAKE-CARE to speak to a Patient Support Representative to determine insurance coverage. To ensure continued coverage, the patient must also call to verify eligibility before receiving each of the remaining two doses.

For uninsured patients or cash payers, GARDASIL is $165 per dose, or $495 for the total treatment series.

Take Care Health ClinicsSM are professional health care clinics located inside pharmacies with two patient examination rooms, fully equipped with sinks and exam tables. Take Care Nurse PractitionersSM (TCNPs) diagnose, treat and write prescriptions for common family illnesses such as ear infections, sore throat and allergies for patients over 18 months old. Basic diagnostic testing, some physicals including those for sports and camp, and vaccinations for flu, meningitis, tetanus and Hepatitis B are also given at the clinics. GARDASIL is also offered in St. Louis and Pittsburgh Take Care Health ClinicsSM.

TCNPs integrate with the traditional medical community toward a shared goal of providing patient-focused care with each encounter. The clinic's streamlined electronic medical record technology tracks and maintains the patient's vaccination and visit record. Nurse practitioners can share the patient's record with the patient's provider, or help a patient find a primary care provider if he/she doesn't have one. Vaccination cards and reminders are provided for each patient to help ensure completion of the GARDASIL three-dose series.

Take Care Health SystemsSM, a leading manager of convenient care clinics, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Walgreens, the nation's largest drugstore chain. The company currently manages 56 clinics in Chicago, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh and St. Louis and plans to have more than 400 clinics in U.S. cities by the end of 2008.

About Take Care Health SystemsSM

Take Care Health SystemsSM (http://www.takecarehealth.com/), a leading manager of convenient care clinics, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Walgreens. Convenient care clinics managed by Take Care HealthSM combine best practices in medicine and the expertise and personal care of Take Care Nurse Practitioners in providing high-quality, accessible and affordable health care to all individuals. The company manages 56 health care clinics in Chicago, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh and St. Louis. Take Care HealthSM uses nationally recognized clinical guidelines, industry standards set forth by the Convenient Care Association (http://www.convenientcareassociation.org/) and an electronic medical record system to ensure the highest quality care. The company maintains a detailed quality assurance program including collaborating physician review to ensure quality care, patient safety and state scope of practice compliance. Patient care is provided by Take Care Health Services, a local operating entity in each market.

About Walgreens

Walgreen Co. is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2006 sales of $47.4 billion. The company operates 5,850 stores in 48 states and Puerto Rico, including 77 Happy Harry's stores in Delaware and surrounding states. Walgreens is expanding its patient-first health care services beyond traditional pharmacy through Walgreens Health Services, its managed care division, and Take Care Health SystemsSM, a wholly-owned subsidiary that manages convenient care clinics inside drugstores. Walgreens Health Services assists pharmacy patients and prescription drug and medical plans through Walgreens Health Initiatives, Inc. (a pharmacy benefits manager), Walgreens Mail Service Inc., Walgreens Home Care Inc., and Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy.

Source: Business Wire

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