CINCINNATI, Sept. 9, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kroger Health,
the healthcare division of The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), today
announced a comprehensive flu shot program, designed to help
Americans get their recommended vaccines amidst the COVID-19
pandemic. The program includes touchless in-store appointments and
drive-thru vaccinations at community Flu Shot Centers across the
country – both of which can be booked online. Kroger Health will
also provide on-site flu shot programs for businesses and
organizations.
"With so many health facilities already overburdened due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever for all Americans
to get a flu shot," said Colleen
Lindholz, president of Kroger Health. "At our COVID-19
drive-thru test sites, we were able to assist thousands of people
in getting a test in a short amount of time. By using that model to
provide flu shots, we hope to provide more customers with a safe,
convenient option to get vaccinated."
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
estimates that during an average flu season, 8% of the U.S.
population gets sick from the flu, with an average of 500,000
flu-related hospitalizations. Since March, more than 370,000
Americans have already been hospitalized as a result of COVID-19,
marking the potential for a significant burden on the already taxed
healthcare system. In addition, according to symptom lists
published by the CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO),
symptoms of COVID-19 and the flu are similar, which may create the
potential for confusion, anxiety, and loss of productivity as
schools and businesses work through their COVID-19 plans and
protocols.
"It will be very difficult for people to determine the
difference between flu symptoms and COVID-19," said Doug Cornelius, health and wellness director for
Kroger Health. "That's why it's so important for Americans to get a
flu shot this year. It not only has been proven to help protect
against the flu, but may also help reduce misidentification as
COVID-19."
To receive a flu shot, customers and associates can make an
appointment online at krogerhealth.com/flu. They can also complete
their pre-visit paperwork online to reduce contact and promote
physical distancing, and many insurance companies cover the flu
shot with no co-pay. Flu shots will be administered at all of
Kroger Health's 2,200 pharmacies and 223 clinics (called The Little
Clinic) across 35 states, in addition to larger venues such as the
Ohio State Fairgrounds and Expo Center, the Salem (Virginia) Civic Center, and the Indianapolis
Zoo. Additional drive-thru Flu Shot Centers will open in various
locations across 19 regions over the next several weeks.
Companies and other organizations also have the option to work
with Kroger Health to set up vaccine clinics for their members. Flu
shot events can be held on site with flu shots administered by
Kroger Health pharmacists or nurse practitioners. Kroger Health is
also helping employers address both COVID-19 and flu via its
COVIDCare Plus program, which includes an
FDA-authorized COVID-19 Test Home Collection Kit and
additional services such as vaccine clinics, telehealth, and
screening programs for personalized health management.
For more information on all Kroger Health flu programs for both
individuals and organizations, please visit krogerhealth.com.
Media Assets: To download flu shot photography, visit
here.
About Kroger Health:
Kroger Health, the healthcare
division of The Kroger Co., is one of America's leading retail
healthcare organizations, with over 2,200 pharmacies and 220
clinics (called The Little Clinic) in 35 states serving more than
14 million customers. Our team of 22,000 healthcare practitioners -
from pharmacists and nurse practitioners, to dietitians and
technicians – are committed to helping people live healthier lives.
We believe in practicing at the top of our licenses and enabling
"food as medicine" to help prevent and manage chronic disease. We
are dedicated to providing testing and wellness services to help
Americans combat the COVID-19 crisis. Learn more
at www.krogerhealth.com.
About The Kroger Co.:
At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we
are Fresh for Everyone™ and dedicated to our Purpose: To Feed the
Human Spirit®. We are, across our family of companies, nearly half
a million associates who serve over 11 million customers daily
through a seamless shopping experience under a variety
of banner names. We are committed to creating
#ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities by 2025. To learn more about us,
visit our newsroom and investor relations site.
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SOURCE The Kroger Co.