Some Walmart stores offer more vaccines

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BENTONVILLE, Ark., Aug. 23 (UPI) -- About 2,700 of the 3,800 U.S. Walmart stores will offer not just flu and pneumonia vaccines, but other vaccines as well, company officials said.

Dr. John Agwunobi, president of Walmart U.S. Health and Wellness, says 10 of the immunizations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta would be offered at events taking place from Aug. 27 through Nov. 15, in collaboration with Mollen Immunization Clinics.

Agwunobi said Walmart is using registered nurses from Mollen Immunization Clinics' nurse network to administer in-store vaccinations across all store locations.

Walmart is offering immunizations to anyone age 3 and older based on CDC and Food and Drug Administration guidelines, Agwunobi says.

Walmart is also partnering with Mollen to provide free blood pressure screenings at all immunization events in Walmart stores Sept. 8, 15, 22 and 29.

The vaccines offered include influenza, pneumonia, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, chickenpox [varicella], human papilloma virus, MMR [measles, mumps, rubella], meningitis, shingles [herpes zoster], and tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough (Tdap).

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says many adults are not up-to-date with recommended life-saving immunizations," Agwunobi says in a statement. "Vaccinations may not be top-of-mind while the weather is still warm, but they are a critical part of public health, especially in light of recent outbreaks of whooping cough and shingles."