LIHU‘E — Flu vaccines on a “walk-in” basis are available at Safeway pharmacies, states a Safeway release.
Additionally, Safeway is also able to provide an off-site flu clinic service for businesses, senior centers and nursing homes that wish to provide their employees or residents with the convenience of receiving the flu vaccine where they work, or live. This service started on Aug. 21, states the release.
Alanna Isobe, pharmacy manager for Safeway Hawai‘i, recently demonstrated this aspect of service when she visited Kaua‘i radio stations and wrapped up with a visit to the Kaua‘i County Council Services offices where Kaua‘i County Council Chair Jay Furfaro received his flu shot, and an additional bonus of a 10 percent discount on his next grocery visit to Safeway.
“We want to make it easy for individuals to protect themselves from this year’s strain of influenza by offering the flu vaccine in an affordable and convenient environment, said George Glukfeld, the Safeway Hawai‘i district manager, in the release. “Individuals have no reason to go unprotected this flu season, nor should businesses risk lost productivity due to a sick workforce.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone 6 months and older get a yearly flu vaccination as soon as the vaccine becomes available.
To avoid the risk of flu-related complications, the CDC emphasizes the importance of people with chronic health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, asthma, COPD, or immunosuppresive conditions getting a flu vaccination this season.
Influenza, or flu, is a contagious disease, states a CDC flier which was distributed by Isobe.
Flu is caused by the influenza virus which can be spread by coughing, sneezing, or nasal secretions. Anyone can get the flu, but rates of infection are highest among children, the CDC flier states.
Symptoms last a few days for most people and include fever or chills, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue, coughing, headaches, and runny, or stuffy nose.
Young children, people 65 years and older, pregnant women, and people with certain health conditions such as heart, liver or kidney disease, or a weakened immune system, can get much more ill.
Flu can cause high fever and pneumonia, making existing health conditions worse.
Influenza can cause diarrhea and seizures in children, and each year, thousands of people die from influenza and even more require hospitalization.
A flu vaccine is a hedge against this as well as helping to spread influenza among other people.
The flu vaccine has been the same for the past two years, the Safeway release states.
This year, the flu vaccine contains a different strain of the flu virus from the previous two years. This year’s flu shot will protect against the H1N12, H3N2, or Victoria, and Influenza B virus.
All Safeway pharmacies will have Fluzone HD, a high dose flu shot available for patients aged 65 years and older. It will also have regular strength and preservative-free presentations available.
For businesses, or organizations which desire an on-site clinic, Stan Leung should be contact at 925-467-2630 to schedule an appointment.
Flu shots are available at the Safeway store at Kaua‘i Village Shopping Center in Waipouli during pharmacy business hours on a walk-in, no appointment required basis.
Safeway pharmacies are also able to provide flu shots for people ages 14 through 17, if a prescription for the flu shot is provided.
Safeway is able to bill Medicare B, HMSA and UHA participants at no charge, as well as some HMA participants at a small co-pay amount.
Visit www.safeway.com/flu for more information, or call Safeway at 822-2191. Visit www.cdc.gov/flu for more information on influenza, or flu.
Safeway, Inc. is a Fortune 100 company and one of the largest food and drug retailers in North America based on sales. It operates 1,687 stores in the U.S. and Canada. Seven of those are in Hawai‘i, including the one in Waipouli.
