Walgreens, Chicago Public Schools & Chicago Department of Public Health Team to Help Parents Meet New State Requirements for ...
21 August 2013 - 12:14AM
Business Wire
Walgreens (NYSE: WAG)(Nasdaq: WAG), Chicago Public Schools (CPS)
and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) are teaming up
to help parents of students grades 6-12 meet a new Illinois state
requirement for Tdap vaccinations, which help to protect against
whooping cough.
The mandate comes as the number of whooping cough cases in
Illinois have almost doubled over the past two years, part of a
national trend that has seen the highest levels of illness in more
than 50 years. Students will be required to show proof of having
received a single dose of the Tdap vaccine, which protects against
pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus and diphtheria, or have an
approved religious or medical exemption on file by Oct. 15.
Walgreens, CPS and CDPH, building on a collaborative health
initiative around flu last year, aim to heighten awareness around
the importance of getting the Tdap vaccine prior to the start of
the school year Aug. 26, by providing greater and more convenient
access to vaccinations through a number of programs and events.
These include:
- Events being held at select CPS
locations with Walgreens pharmacists on hand to administer vaccines
to students in need
- Walgreens and CDPH hosting immunization
clinics throughout the city to provide vaccines to students in
need
- The CDPH Care Van touring parks,
schools and businesses to offer free mobile immunization clinics in
communities across Chicago
- Ten Walgreens stores in Chicago are
being enrolled in the federally funded Vaccine for Children
program, to help provide greater access to the Tdap vaccine for
communities in need. The program provides vaccinations for eligible
children up to 18 years of age.
More information is available at
www.cityofchicago.org/health.
“In Chicago, more cases of whooping cough were reported last
year than in the prior three years combined,” said Dr. Julie
Morita, medical director for the CDPH Immunization Program. “Making
sure that children receive the Tdap vaccine is one of the most
important things parents can do to protect their children. When our
students are healthier, our classrooms, schools and
communities will be healthier.”
There were 2,026 whooping cough cases reported across Illinois
in 2012, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the
highest in the state since 1950. Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a
highly contagious and potentially serious illness that is easily
transmitted.
The Tdap vaccine is the most effective way to help prevent the
illness, and health officials warn that those who aren’t immunized
are not only at increased risk for disease, it also increases risk
for spreading of the disease within the classroom or the
community.
“Walgreens is playing an important role in helping to prevent
this serious illness, providing greater access to vaccine in the
Chicago area and throughout Illinois. We have more than 600 points
of care statewide including our pharmacies and Healthcare Clinics
that routinely offer the Tdap vaccine and other immunizations
year-round,” said Harry Leider, MD, chief medical officer,
Walgreens. “Access to this and other vaccines, as well as
out-of-pocket costs are barriers for many families, and through
this collaboration with CDPH and CPS, we’re focused on making the
back-to-school season easier while helping more students and their
families get, stay and live well.”
A Tdap booster vaccine is recommended for adults and adolescents
to protect against whooping cough, and is especially important for
those in contact with infants younger than 12 months of age. A dose
of Tdap is also recommended for pregnant women.
Immunizations are covered by most insurance plans as well as
Medicaid. Parents are advised to contact their insurance provider
or talk with a Walgreens pharmacist if they have questions.
CDPH immunizations are free for all children from birth through
18 years of age. Parents should bring immunization records for each
child being served.
About CDPH
The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) works to make
Chicago a safer and healthier place by working with community
partners to promote health, prevent disease, reduce environmental
hazards and ensure access to health care for all Chicagoans. Visit
us at www.cityofchicago.org/health to learn more about
how CDPH is transforming the health of our city.
About Walgreens
As the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2012 sales
of $72 billion, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) vision is to be the
first choice for health and daily living for everyone in American
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 8,105 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of
Columbia and Puerto Rico. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens
subsidiary that is the largest and most comprehensive manager of
worksite health and wellness centers and in-store convenient care
clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.
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