Walgreens Flu Index Shows Flu Activity Is Up 23 Percent Compared to Last Flu Season as People Return to More In-Person Activities - Seite 2

“COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and barriers to access are not an isolated issue. Many people share the same concerns when it comes to getting a flu shot, wondering if it is safe, if it works or if it is actually needed,” said Ban. “Walgreens is committed to breaking down barriers by meeting our patients where they are through off-site vaccination clinics and leaning into our thousands of pharmacists to help address patient questions based on their personal situation and concerns.”

Walgreens has a long history of collaborating with local churches and national civic groups to reach medically underserved and underrepresented communities with education, information and access to life-saving vaccines. Building on the Walgreens COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Initiative launched at the start of the pandemic, Walgreens continues to partner at the local level with community organizations and churches to host off-site clinics, educate on the importance of flu shots, and dispel common myths. In addition, as Walgreens has for the past decade, Walgreens distributes 200,000 flu vouchers annually to provide free flu immunizations for medically underserved populations that need them most.

Top 10 DMAs with Flu Activity

1. Las Vegas
2. El Paso, Texas
3. Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen, Texas
4. Tyler-Longview, Texas
5. Montgomery-Selma, Ala.
6. Columbus-Tupelo-West Point-Houston, Miss.
7. Knoxville, Tenn.
8. Corpus Christi, Texas
9. Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
10. Youngstown, Ohio

Top 10 States with Flu Activity

1. Nevada
2. Mississippi
3. Texas
4. New Mexico
5. Tennessee
6. Washington, D.C.
7. Oklahoma
8. Louisiana
9. Alabama
10. Alaska

Through the time lapse feature of the Walgreens Flu Index, users can see how current flu activity compares to activity from last season.

About Walgreens Flu Index

The Walgreens Flu Index is an online, interactive tool that ranks the top markets and states for flu activity in the U.S., including Puerto Rico, as well as the top markets and states showing the largest increases in flu activity week-over-week. Users can search by market or state to see where their geographic area ranks for flu activity in any given week, as well as how current flu activity compares to last season. On a weekly basis, we track the incremental change of antiviral medications used to treat influenza across thousands of Walgreens and Duane Reade locations nationwide to create the Walgreens Flu Index.