Walgreens kicks off vaccination campaign

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens kicked off its third Get a Shot. Give a Shot campaign on Wednesday. This year’s campaign promises to provide a life-saving vaccine for every immunization administered at any Walgreens pharmacy, Healthcare Clinic or Duane Reade until Aug. 31, 2016.

Donations will be made through the United Nations Foundation’s Shot@Life campaign.

“Get a Shot. Give a Shot demonstrates the important role our customers can play, and how a flu shot or other immunization can truly make a world of difference,” Walgreens president Alex Gourlay said. “We’re extremely proud of the global impact the program has made. And as we expand our relationship with the UN Foundation, our objective is to also increase our donation over last season to help provide more life-saving vaccines to children who need them most.”

Around the world, 1 in 5 children cannot access life-saving immunizations, and a child dies every 20 seconds from a vaccine-preventable disease, according to Walgreens. 

"Vaccines protect and improve the lives of millions of children in developing countries each year,” Kathy Calvin, president and CEO of the UN Foundation, said. “The prevention of measles deaths has been the single largest contributor to reducing childhood deaths over the last decade and we are now so close to ending polio. By expanding our partnership with Walgreens, we can support UN efforts to help children access these life-saving vaccines around the globe.”