Winn-Dixie offering standard, high-dose and intradermal flu vaccine options at its in-store pharmacies; cost covered by most insurance plans

Cindy Allen

JACKSONVILLE, Florida , August 20, 2012 (press release) – To encourage people to protect their health, Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., kicked off its “Shield Yourself” flu vaccination campaign today, offering three different options of this year’s influenza vaccine to help shield guests from the flu. Guests at any of the grocer’s in-store pharmacies can choose from the standard vaccination, a high dose vaccine recommended for those 65 and older, or an Intradermal flu vaccination administered with a microneedle that is 90 percent smaller than traditional needles.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a yearly vaccination provides the best protection throughout flu season. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against influenza virus infection. That’s why it’s better to get vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is available, before the flu season really gets under way.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all people age six months and older should be vaccinated against the flu as soon as the vaccine becomes available,” said John Fegan, vice president of pharmacy for Winn-Dixie. “We have the flu vaccine now and offer guests quick and easy options to receive it while they do their grocery shopping. With the start of school, now is the perfect time to shield your health with a flu shot.”

Guests can secure a flu shot in any Winn-Dixie in-store pharmacy on a walk-in basis or can schedule an appointment online at www.winndixie.com/pharmacy. Winn-Dixie guests that enroll in Winn-Dixie’s Prescription Drug Plan will pay a discounted rate off the vaccination as follows:

Regular flu vaccination $24.99
Intradermal vaccination $29.99
Fluzone High Dose vaccination $44.99

The flu vaccinations are covered by most insurance plans including Tri-Care and Medicare. There is no out of pocket expense for guests with Medicare Part B coverage.

Additionally, Fegan noted that Winn-Dixie pharmacists recommend washing your hands frequently; wiping down telephones, remote controls, and door knobs with disinfectant; and keeping tissues handy to stop the spread of viruses. Guests receiving a flu vaccination will also receive a coupon book worth an additional $15 in savings on these health and wellness products, while supplies last.

About Winn-Dixie Pharmacy

From preventive health screenings to medication counseling, immunizations and more, Winn-Dixie pharmacists provide vital wellness services that stretch far beyond filling prescriptions.

Winn-Dixie recently launched a prescription-savings program in all of its pharmacies that offers 30-day prescriptions for $4 and 90-day prescriptions for $10 on more than 400 generic medications including the generic form of Plavix® (clopidogrel) and varied discounts on name-brand and other generic medication. The grocer offers guests a wealth of health benefits and services including daily free blood pressure checks, fast and easy prescription refills and/or transfers, convenient refills through the Ready Refill program, low-cost health screenings such as cholesterol or diabetes, and female and male wellness screenings. For information about the Winn-Dixie pharmacy or to schedule a specific appointment time with a certified Winn-Dixie pharmacist this year, guest can visit www.winndixie.com/pharmacy.

Named a J.D. Power 2011 Customer Service Champion, Winn-Dixie pharmacies employ a central prescription record system that links all of its pharmacies, making customer prescription records available at any location and accessible by computer through ePharmacy; by smartphone with the FREE Winn-Dixie Rx App; or by cell phone via Winn-Dixie Mobile Services.

About Winn-Dixie

Winn-Dixie is a subsidiary of BI-LO Holding, which is the ninth-largest traditional supermarket chain in the United States. Under the banner names of BI-LO and Winn-Dixie, the company employs 63,000 team members who serve customers in 687 grocery stores and 493 in-store pharmacies throughout the eight southeastern states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. BI-LO and Winn-Dixie are well-known and well-respected regional brands with deep heritages, strong neighborhood ties, proud histories of giving back, talented and loyal team members, and strong commitments to providing the best possible quality and value to customers. For more information, please visit www.bi-lo.com and www.winn-dixie.com.

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