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Take Care Health Clinics Ready Flu Shots for National Influenza Vaccination Week From Nov. 26 to Dec. 2

Posted on: Monday, 26 November 2007, 09:01 CST

Take Care Health Systems, one of the largest managers of convenient care clinics and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Walgreens (NYSE, NASDAQ: WAG), today announced its 102 clinics nationwide are fully stocked with flu shots in anticipation of The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Influenza Vaccination Week from Nov. 26 to Dec. 2. According to the CDC, each year an average of 5 to 20 percent of the U.S. population gets the flu, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized for flu complications and 36,000 die from the flu.

"Annual vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the flu and is best performed early in the season, which can last as late as May," said Sandra Ryan, Chief Nurse Practitioner Officer for Take Care Health Systems. "Take Care Health Clinics, which are open seven days a week with no appointments and accept most major insurance plans, offer an accessible, convenient and affordable way for individuals to protect themselves and their loved ones against the flu this year."

Flu shots are available any day of the week at all Take Care Health Clinics throughout flu season with no appointments necessary and extended hours on evenings and weekends. Take Care Health Providers offer the vaccine to patients 9 years of age and older -- in fact, the CDC has declared Tuesday, Nov. 27 as childhood immunization day. The cost of a flu vaccination at Take Care Health Clinics is $24.99 and is often covered by insurance.

Due to influenza's unpredictability, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that the influenza vaccine be offered throughout the entire flu season, even after it has appeared or begun appearing in a community. It takes two weeks after the vaccination for the body to be fully prepared to protect against the flu.

Most insurance plans are accepted at the clinics including Aetna, CIGNA, Coventry, Great-West, Humana, MultiPlan, UnitedHealthCare, many local Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans, and Medicare and Medicaid. Individual insurance plans accepted in each market are clearly posted on TakeCareHealth.com and clinic signage.

Take Care Health Clinics are professional, walk-in health care centers, staffed by nationally certified and licensed nurse practitioners and physician assistants who treat patients 18 months and older for common illnesses such as strep throat, ear and sinus infections, pink eye and poison ivy. Take Care Health Providers offer diagnostic screenings; school, sports and camp physicals; and vaccinations for flu, hepatitis B, meningitis and tetanus. Providers write prescriptions, as clinically appropriate, that can be filled at the patient's pharmacy of choice.

Take Care Health Systems manages 102 locations in 11 states, including: Atlanta, Chicago, Cincinnati, Houston, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Miami, Milwaukee, Orlando, Fla., Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Tampa, Fla. and Tucson, Ariz. Further expansion in 2007 is planned for Cleveland and Nashville, Tenn.

About Take Care Health SystemsSM

Take Care Health SystemsSM (www.takecarehealth.com), one of the largest managers of convenient care clinics, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Walgreens. Take Care Health Clinics managed by Take Care Health Systems combine best practices in health care and the expertise and personal care of nurse practitioners and physician assistants in providing high-quality, accessible and affordable health care to all individuals. Take Care Health Systems 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, an independently owned state professional corporation established in each market.

About Walgreens

Walgreen Co. (NYSE, NASDAQ: WAG) is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2007 sales of $53.8 billion. The company operates 6,059 stores in 49 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 Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary that manages convenient care clinics at drugstores. Walgreens Health Services assists pharmacy patients and prescription drug and medical plans through Walgreens Health Initiatives, Inc. (a pharmacy benefit manager), Walgreens Mail Service, Inc., Walgreens Home Care, Inc. and Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy, LLC.

Source: Business Wire

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