LAKELAND, Fla., Sept. 28, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Publix Super Markets Inc. stores in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee will launch its flu vaccination program Oct. 1, 2005. The program follows updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to first vaccinate high-risk individuals.
"Maxim Health Services, our partner for the flu clinics, will conduct an assessment on all interested customers Oct. 1-Oct. 24, 2005, to determine if they are in a high-risk category," said Media and Community Relations Director Maria Brous. "This will ensure that we are in compliance with the CDC recommendations."
High-risk patients include:
-- Persons age 65 years or more
-- Persons age 2-64 with comorbid conditions, such as: lung or
heart disease, asthma, chronic metabolic disease (kidney, blood
or diabetes)
-- Residents of long-term care facilities (nursing homes, chronic
care facilities)
-- Children age 6-23 months
-- Pregnant women
-- Health care personnel who provide direct patient care and/or
-- Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children aged
less than 6 months.
All persons will be eligible for vaccination Oct. 25-Nov. 15.
During the flu clinics at Publix, the following vaccinations are available:
-- Flu: $25 -- Pneumonia: $35 -- Tetanus/Diphtheria: $30
The flu clinics will accept patients with Medicare Part B with no copay. For a detailed listing of store locations, dates and times, please visit www.publix.com/flu.
Publix is owned and operated by its 132,000 employees, with 2004 sales of $18.6 billion. Currently Publix has 865 stores in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee. The company has been named one of Fortune's "100 Best Companies to Work For in America" for eight consecutive years. In addition, for the third year in a row, Publix Super Markets Inc. has been named the No. 1 supermarket pharmacy in customer satisfaction in the nation by Wilson Health Information, a leading consumer research firm. For more information, visit the company's Web site, www.publix.com.