Walgreens Collaborates with National Minority AIDS Council to Encourage African Americans with HIV to Get Recommended Vaccina...
12 February 2014 - 3:45AM
Business Wire
Flu, Pneumonia potentially life threatening for
African Americans living with HIV
In collaboration with the National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC),
Walgreens (NYSE: WAG) (Nasdaq: WAG) is furthering its commitment to
improve HIV treatment outcomes for African Americans living with
HIV by deepening pharmacists’ training and expanding access to the
pneumococcal vaccination specifically indicated for persons living
with HIV as incidents of flu and pneumonia rise.
Pneumococcal disease can spread from a sneeze or cough and can
cause significant or life threatening infection for those with
chronic illnesses. People living with HIV are at a higher risk of
pneumococcal disease – 35 times greater than someone unaffected by
HIV at a similar age.1 African Americans are at an even greater
risk as nearly half of all new HIV infections2 are within the
population and African Americans have the lowest seasonal
vaccination rate at 40 percent3.
Pneumococcal vaccinations specifically indicated for persons
living with HIV are available at all Walgreens HIV-specialized
pharmacies to help meet preventive care needs of African Americans
living with HIV. Walgreens specially trained pharmacists are
working closely with physicians to understand patient needs and
deliver individualized, comprehensive care including vaccine
administration.
“We understand that African Americans are disproportionately
affected by HIV and can be heavily impacted during the cold and flu
season when pneumonia may be more prevalent,” said Glen
Pietrandoni, Walgreens director of specialty products and services,
virology. “In addition to stocking our HIV-specialized pharmacies
with the CDC-recommended vaccine, we have provided additional
pharmacist training so that each of our more than 2,000
HIV-specialized pharmacists is prepared to provide both seasonal
and general wellness consultations and administer this vitally
important vaccination.”
With HIV-specialized pharmacies accessible to nearly 90 percent
of the U.S. HIV population, Walgreens is uniquely positioned to
help decrease vaccine preventable diseases in HIV-positive
populations that were previously difficult-to-reach and often live
in medically underserved areas.
Walgreens works closely with NMAC and other community
organizations and advocacy groups with one goal in mind – be a part
of the solution to end AIDS.
“It is especially critical that people living with HIV remain
vigilant not only about managing the virus, but also protecting
their overall health,” said Dr. Kim Johnson, NMAC director of
community advancement and leadership strategies. “With cold, flu
and pneumonia rampant, the importance of protecting already
compromised immune systems is even more pronounced. This means
getting vaccinated, eating well, and regularly washing your hands.
NMAC is pleased to partner with Walgreens to encourage minority
communities to safeguard their health, by promoting and expanding
access to critical preventive health services.”
Pneumococcal vaccinations are fully covered through Medicare
Part B and select pharmacy and medical plans.
About Walgreens
As the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2013 sales
of $72 billion, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) vision is to be the
first choice in health and daily living for everyone in America,
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 8,200 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of
Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Take Care Health
Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most
comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers,
provider practices, and in-store convenient care clinics, with more
than 750 locations throughout the country.
1 Heffernan RT, Barrett NL, Gallagher KM, Hadler JL, Harrison
LH, Reingold AL, Khoshnood K, Holford TR, Schuchat A. Declining
incidence of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae infections among
persons with AIDS in an era of highly active antiretroviral
therapy, 1995-2000. J Infect Dis. 2005 Jun;191(12):2038-45
2 National Minority AIDS Council 2010 research; 46 percent
3 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
WalgreensMarkeisha Marshall, (847)
315-2923http://news.walgreens.com@WalgreensNewsfacebook.com/Walgreens
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