Retail Clinics Awarded at National Flu-Vaccine Summit

WOONSOCKET, R.I.—CVS/pharmacy and MinuteClinic (CVS Caremark's retail clinic division), received the National Influenza Vaccine Summit “2009 Immunization Excellence Award for a Corporate Campaign.” The award is co-sponsored by the American Medical Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and was presented June 29 at the National Influenza Vaccine Summit annual meeting.

The award recognizes individuals and organizations that have made contributions toward improved adult and/or childhood influenza vaccination rates, and corporate campaigns that increase awareness and delivery of influenza vaccinations nationwide.

Through its integrated "Flu Shots Made Simple" campaign, CVS/pharmacy and MinuteClinic administered more than 1.2 million flu shots in its retail locations during the 2008/2009 flu season.

The coordinated approach included 7,500 flu shot clinic events held in CVS/pharmacy stores and flu shots on demand seven days a week at about 500 MinuteClinic healthcare centers located inside select CVS/pharmacy locations across the country. More than 6,000 nurse practitioners, registered nurses and pharmacists administered shots as part of the program.

To educate the public about the importance of getting an annual flu shot, CVS/pharmacy and MinuteClinic designed an integrated marketing communications campaign that included television, print, direct, in-store promotion and public relations.

"CVS/pharmacy and MinuteClinic are delighted to be recognized for our efforts to vaccinate our customers and patients and to help keep them and their families healthy during the cold and flu season," said Donna Haugland, chief nursing officer, MinuteClinic, who accepted the award on behalf of MinuteClinic and CVS/pharmacy.

CVS/pharmacy and MinuteClinic will announce plans for its 2009/2010 flu shot campaign soon. Flu shots will be available at in-store flu shot events and daily at MinuteClinic. In addition, MinuteClinic will continue to administer rapid flu testing and serve as a surveillance provider to local health departments in 25 states and more than 50 metropolitan areas.

CVS Caremark is the largest provider of prescriptions in the nation; the company fills or manages more than 1 billion prescriptions annually.

SOURCES: CVS Caremark and PRNewswire