Sam's Club Supports Businesses through Early Flu Shot Availability

BENTONVILLE, Ark., Aug. 15, 2013

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), last year's flu season began four weeks earlier than expected, resulting in the earliest flu season in a decade. The early onset and prolonged infection period had a disproportionate impact on America's small businesses, which rely on fewer employees to maintain profits and productivity, especially from the holidays through tax season. The CDC estimates that each year the flu results in 75 million days of work absences and 200 million days of diminished productivity for businesses nationwide. Cumulatively, the flu costs U.S. businesses an estimated $6.2 billion in lost productivity each year. 

"Sam's Club has been a longstanding health resource for families and thousands of business owners," said Jill Turner-Mitchael, licensed pharmacist and senior vice president of health and wellness for Sam's Club. "With the onset of flu season and weather patterns becoming increasingly unpredictable, it's every business's job to plan ahead this year. At Sam's Club, we're providing easier access to flu shots and immunizations this year so our customers who plan ahead can protect themselves, their colleagues and their bottom line. Preventive action is critical to maintaining business continuity and growth." 

Sam's Club offers both scheduled appointments and walk-in immunizations at affordable, competitive prices. Licensed professional Sam's Club pharmacists are available for consultations on immunizations, low prices on medications, the Sam's Plus Extra Value Drug Program and free monthly health and wellness screenings. Businesses and families can gather additional information at SamsClub.com/healthyliving.

Specific immunizations to be offered include:

• Flu (influenza)
• Pneumonia (pneumococcal)
• Whooping cough (pertussis) tetanus and diphtheria (Tdap/Td)
• Shingles (herpes zoster)
• Chickenpox (varicella)
• HPV (human papillomavirus)
• MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
• Meningitis (meningococcal)
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B

Information about all of Sam's Club's health and wellness offerings can also be found in the Club's bi-monthly wellness magazine, Healthy Living Made Simple, which reaches approximately 8 million members.

About Sam's Club^®
Sam's Club^®, a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT), is the nation's eighth largest retailer and a leading membership warehouse club offering superior products and services to more than 47 million business and household members in clubs across the U.S., as well as in Brazil, China and Mexico. Sam's Club members averaged savings of 33 percent versus traditional retailers. To learn more about Savings Made Simple^®, visit the Sam's Club Newsroom, shop at SamsClub.com, and interact with Sam's Club on Twitter and Facebook.