Walgreens Flu Index® Reveals Flu Activity for the 2020-2021 Flu Season
December 09 2020 - 6:00AM
Business Wire
Returning for its seventh season, Walgreens Flu
Index® encourages consumers to take protective health measures and
avoid a ‘twindemic’ as COVID-19 cases continue to rise
Walgreens today launched its Walgreens Flu Index® for the
2020-2021 season to help communities track flu activity in their
area and serve as a reminder to get vaccinated against the flu,
just in time for National Influenza Vaccination Week Dec. 6 - Dec.
12. With COVID-19 cases continuing to surge across the country,
health experts are encouraging flu shots to prevent the spread of
two respiratory illnesses circulating at the same time and
hospitals reaching capacity.
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“It’s important everyone remain vigilant in getting vaccinated
against the flu to reduce the burden on our already strained
healthcare system during the pandemic,” said Kevin Ban, M.D., Chief
Medical Officer, Walgreens. “Even once COVID-19 vaccines are
approved, it takes time for them to reach the general population.
Flu shots are available today at local Walgreens pharmacies
nationwide and something everyone can do to protect their health,
and the health of their loved ones.”
The Walgreens Flu Index shows that in the month of November,
overall flu activity was low nationwide compared to a normal flu
season. Several Texan communities topped the list, with southern
markets showing the most widespread flu activity both this flu
season and in the 2019-2020 flu season. Many of the same states
topped the list during the month of November for both the 2019-2020
and 2020-2021 flu seasons, including Nevada, Texas, Mississippi,
Alabama, New Mexico, Tennessee and Arkansas.
“The unprecedented demand we’ve seen for flu shots this season,
along with safety precautions everyone is taking to limit the
spread of COVID-19, such as social distancing, wearing facemasks
and frequently washing their hands, may be contributing to lower
flu activity this season,” added Dr. Ban.
Through the time lapse feature of the Walgreens Flu Index, users
can see how current flu activity compares to last season.
Top 10 DMAs with Flu Activity For the Month of November
- San Angelo, Texas
- Abilene-Sweetwater, Texas
- El Paso, Texas
- Tyler-Longview, Texas
- Las Vegas
- Jackson, Tenn.
- Laredo, Texas
- Alexandria, La.
- Wichita Falls, TX & Lawton, Okla.
- Odessa-Midland, Texas
Top 10 States with Flu Activity For the Month of November
- Nevada
- Texas
- Mississippi
- Alabama
- New Mexico
- Tennessee
- Oklahoma
- Louisiana
- Arkansas
- New Jersey
What It Is
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.
What It Is Not
The Index is not intended to illustrate levels or severity of
flu activity, but rather, based on this methodology, to show which
populations are experiencing the highest incidence of influenza
within the U.S. and Puerto Rico each week.
Flu Index Frequency
The Walgreens Flu Index is updated weekly each Tuesday and is
available through an online, interactive map, linked here.
Behind the Methodology
Data for the Walgreens Flu Index is analyzed at state and
geographic market levels to measure absolute impact and incremental
change of antiviral medications on a per store average basis, and
does not include markets in which Walgreens has fewer than 10
retail locations. Low-high rankings are designated based on a
normal flu season, defined by an average of the last five flu
seasons nationwide. For example, red regions on the Walgreens Flu
Index map indicates a much higher than a normal flu season, while
green regions indicate a much lower than normal flu season.
About Walgreens
Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) is included in the Retail Pharmacy
USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), a
global leader in retail and wholesale pharmacy. As America’s most
loved pharmacy, health and beauty company, Walgreens purpose is to
champion the health and well-being of every community in America.
Operating more than 9,000 retail locations across America, Puerto
Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Walgreens is proud to be a
neighborhood health destination serving approximately 8 million
customers each day. Walgreens pharmacists play a critical role in
the U.S. healthcare system by providing a wide range of pharmacy
and healthcare services. To best meet the needs of customers and
patients, Walgreens offers a true omnichannel experience, with
platforms bringing together physical and digital, supported by the
latest technology to deliver high-quality products and services in
local communities nationwide.
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Alex Brown alexandra.brown@walgreens.com (224) 441-5991
http://news.walgreens.com @WalgreensNews
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