As many as 1,000 local uninsured or underinsured residents will have access to free flu shots thanks to a partnership involving Jackson County United Way.
That partnership, which also involves the FamilyWize Community Service program, is dedicated to building strong communities through better health.
FamilyWize has been selected to help distribute 1,000 vouchers for free flu shots to county residents. The flu shots will be provided by Walgreens in Seymour. The vouchers are for low-income families and individuals unable to afford a flu shot.
The flu can have a significant impact on the lives of many individuals, especially those who are either underinsured or not insured at all, said Tonja Couch, executive director of Jackson County United Way.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports parents spend from $300 to $4,000 in medical expenses and miss an estimated 11 to 73 hours of work when their children get the flu.
“We are dedicated to connecting clients in need with additional services,” Couch said. “Families are in need of services like this to stay healthy and continue
working. This is a great opportunity for people to receive additional support at no cost.”
Walgreens plans to distribute the vaccines from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 17 at the former Bullard’s Industrial Food Service building at 209 E. Second St. during Anchor House’s monthly mobile food pantry.
Individuals must apply to receive a free flu shot voucher by visiting the FamilyWize website at FamilyWize.org. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last
“Many of the families we support cannot afford the cost of an influenza vaccination let alone the direct medical costs and time away from work if they or someone in their family contracts the flu,” Dan Barnes, CEO of FamilyWize, wrote in a news release. “Families who are unable to afford proper medical coverage need support from community partners to stay healthy and
financially stable.”
The vouchers have been provided by Walgreens as part of a nationwide program with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which helps to make flu shots available to people without health insurance coverage and who are unable to afford a flu shot.
In addition to the free flu shot vouchers, everyone visiting the website can get a free FamilyWize prescription savings card for savings of up to 75 percent off the cost of prescription medication.
“FamilyWize has existing relationships with many families and individuals who can benefit from the free access to flu vaccinations the voucher program was designed to provide,” said Brad Wasson, Walgreens group vice president. “Over the past five years, we’ve distributed more than 1 million vouchers nationwide, helping to respond to the needs of the communities we serve, while also improving immunization rates during flu season.”
The families and individuals who are eligible to receive a free flu shot voucher are subject to the terms and conditions on the voucher.
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The FamilyWize Community Service Partnership was established in 2005 to help all people get the medicine they need.
The FamilyWize prescription savings card is the only program of its kind to pass through 100 percent of its negotiated discounts directly to cardholders. The card is accepted at more than 60,000 pharmacies nationwide, including CVS, Walgreens and Walmart.
For information, to get a free prescription card or download the free FamilyWize mobile app, visit FamilyWize.org.
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