Mayor Emanuel Celebrates Grand Opening of New Walgreens Flagship Store and Reminds Chicagoans about the Importance of Getting a Flu Vaccine

CHICAGO & DEERFIELD, Ill. --(Business Wire)--

Mayor Rahm Emanuel joined representatives from Walgreens to celebrate the grand opening of a new Walgreens flagship store in the Bucktown-Wicker Park neighborhood on Tuesday afternoon, taking the opportunity to remind Chicagoans about the importance of getting a flu shot this season.

"This new flagship Walgreens not only provides dozens of new jobs for Chicagoans, it serves as an anchor for these neighborhoods and is opening just in time to add to the City's flu prevention efforts this season," said Mayor Emanuel. "It's important for people across the city to take steps that keep them healthy. The City has launched an interactive online tool to help Chicagoans find flu shot locations and has crafted partnerships to provide additional opportunities for people to get flu shots right in their own neighborhoods. The City is working to make sure everyone has the opportunity to get a flu shot and maintain their health this winter."

This week, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is teaming with Walgreens and community partners across Chicago to remind Chicagoans that "It's Not Too Late to Get a Flu Shot" and launch the first Vaccinate Chicago Week, which runs through Saturday, December 8. During Vaccinate Chicago Week, Chicagoans can find flu vaccine clinics right in their neighborhoods - with many offering free flu shots.

"We're proud to welcome Mayor Emanuel to this great new location to reinforce the need for prevention and protection from influenza," said Kermit Crawford, Walgreens President of Pharmacy, Health and Wellness. "We continue to work together to develop new programs that bring our pharmacists and Take Care Clinic nurse practitioners into Chicago communities, providing greater access to flu shots and other immunizations. Initiatives like Vaccinate Chicago Week can go a long way tward keeping Chicago healthy throughout the cold and flu season."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a flu shot for everyone over the age of 6 months and recommends vaccination every season in order to be fully protected against influenza. In Illinois, pharmacists may administer the flu vaccine to individuals age 10 and older.

"The winter season brings an increased chance of getting the flu and we encourage all Chicagoans to get a flu vaccination now to protect themselves and stay healthy," said Chicago Public Health Commissioner Bechara Choucair, M.D. "We've teamed with Walgreens and community partners to make it as easy as possible to find a convenient location."

All Walgreens pharmacies and Take Care Clinics offer flu shots daily with no appointment necessary. Flu shots are covered under Medicare Part B as well as a majority of insurance plans.

Last month, the City teamed with local developers to launch a new interactive online map that pinpoints flu shot clinics: www.CityOfChicago.org/Flu/Map. A complete list of activities surrounding Vaccinate Chicago Week is available at www.CityOfChicago.org/Health.

About The Bucktown/Wicker Park Walgreens Flagship Store

The new Walgreens flagship store is located within the historic Noel State Bank building at the northwest corner of North and Damen Avenues in the city's Bucktown/Wicker Park neighborhood. The one-of-a-kind retail location preserves the stunning and historic building's original architectural integrity.

This is Walgreens second flagship store in Chicago and, like its downtown State and Randolph flagship location, features an extensive collection of innovative offerings, products and services unexpected from a drugstore.

About Walgreens

As the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2012 sales of $72 billion, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) vision is to become America's first choice for health and daily living. 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 8,030 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

About Walgreens Take Care Health Systems

Take Care Health Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of Walgreens, is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers and convenient care clinics in the country. TCHS is comprised of Take Care Consumer Solutions (www.takecarehealth.com). Take Care Consumer Solutions manages Take Care Clinics at select Walgreens drugstores throughout the country. Patient care at each of the Take Care Clinics is provided by Take Care Health Services, an independently owned state professional corporation established in each market.