Children flu shots available at Kroger

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WESTERVILLE, OH — All local Kroger pharmacies now offer flu shots to individuals starting at 7-years-old.

No prescription is necessary and the vaccination is covered under most insurance plans, including Medicare. Patients are not required to make an appointment. All shots are administered by certified Kroger pharmacists.

In March 2015, Ohio Governor John Kasich signed into law, a bill which changed the scope and age limits on certain types of immunizations that may be administered by pharmacists and pharmacy interns. Prior to the law change, Ohio pharmacists were only able to give flu shots to patients 14 years or older.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends an annual flu shot for all individuals ages 6 months and older. “It is important for all eligible individuals, particularly children and senior citizens, who are most susceptible to disease, to receive the flu vaccine this season. It is still the single-best way to protect against flu,” said Tara Green, Pharm.D., and Kroger Columbus Division pharmacist. “The vaccine not only protects you from becoming ill, but it also prevents the disease from transmitting to others. By getting a flu shot, you are helping yourself, your family and community stay healthy.”

Kroger will be offering several types of flu vaccines this year, including the common trivalent vaccine, the quadrivalent vaccine that covers an extra strain of influenza, and the Fluzone® High-Dose for those ages 65 and older. The high-dose vaccine gives senior adults who are more susceptible to the flu a stronger immune response after vaccination, as it contains four times more antigen than the regular vaccine. Later in September, Kroger will also offer the nasal spray version of the vaccine while supplies last.

“Many people are wondering if the flu vaccine will be a better match this season,” said Green. “This year’s vaccine includes two new strains, so it likely will be. Even if it’s not an ideal match to what strain hits, a flu shot still decreases the risk of getting the flu or the severity of symptoms.”

When receiving a flu shot, ask your Kroger pharmacist about other vaccines you may need, such as pneumonia, shingles, tetanus and whooping cough. During the same visit, many people can receive another important vaccine that will help protect their health.

Patients can also receive a flu shot from nurse practitioners at The Little Clinic, located in 15 Columbus-area Kroger stores.

About Kroger’s Columbus Division: Since 1907, Kroger’s Columbus Division has been serving customers throughout central Ohio. Today, nearly 19,000 associates assist customers in 123 supermarkets, 120 pharmacies and 90 fuel centers throughout central and northwest Ohio, as well as southeast Michigan and the Ohio River Valley region.

The Columbus Division is home to Kroger’s Great Lakes Distribution Center, The Kroger Bakery, Tamarack Dairy and Kroger Pharmacy’s regional fulfillment center. Focusing its charitable efforts on hunger relief, supporting our nation’s military, breast cancer awareness and local school and education programs, the division donated $4 million in 2014 to more than 4,500 local non-profits through the division’s Kroger Community Rewards program.

Since 2010, the division has donated more than $2 million to Feeding America food banks throughout the region. Committed to environmental sustainability, currently all division stores participate in organics recycling and 20 stores have earned Energy Star certification through the EPA for reducing energy consumption.

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