Safeway Promotes Flu Vaccines
Safeway Inc. (SWY), a retail sector leader in health and wellness, has started offering both traditional and High Dose (HD) vaccines nationwide. The new initiative is a part of the company's goal to motivate common people towards taking adequate precautionary measures to protect themselves against the commonly-infected diseases. Safeway pharmacists have been administering immunizations over the past decade, completing more than 5 million vaccinations.
The Centers for Disease Control (:CDC), estimates that approximately 5%-20% of the U.S. population is affected annually by flu. In order to safeguard people against such commonplace yet infectious illnesses, the CDC recommends that people aged 6 months and above should receive a flu vaccine.
Additionally, annual flu shots are necessary for people who complain of chronic health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (:COPD), or immunosuppressive conditions.
The availability of flu vaccines at Safeway stores is part of the consumer awareness program that aims to aid improvement in customer and community health. Communities at large are expected to benefit from this initiative as they can now easily access the flu vaccine at conveniently located Safeway Pharmacy stores. As an incentive to encourage more number of people to get the flu vaccine, Safeway will offer a 10% discount coupon that can be availed on a shopping trip at Safeway stores.
Common Flu shots will be regularly available in majority of the Safeway Pharmacy locations during normal business hours, seven days a week, on a walk-in basis. No prior appointment or prescription will be necessary. Moreover, select Safeway locations will also carry stocks of the new Quadrivalent FluMist intranasal vaccine, which is ideal for healthy patients aged between 5 and 49.
Safeway's noble mission also focuses on the senior citizen population, believed to be one of the most susceptible groups when it comes to common infections. The Fluzone HD will be specifically available for the senior people, providing better immune response and stronger protection against flu.
The broad network of Safeway pharmacy stores offers free consultation by competent Safeway pharmacists to determine the most suitable vaccine type. Besides administering vaccines, they also provide advice for better flu prevention and patient care, and updates on other immunization.
Currently, SWY carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Other stocks that are also worth a look include Koninklijke Ahold N.V. (AHONY), Carrefour SA (CRRFY) and Etablissements Delhaize Fr (DEG), each of them carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
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