Publix, Devoted Health Team Up To Offer Low-Cost Flu Shot Clinics

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Devoted Health, a next-generation Medicare Advantage plan, has announced a partnership with Publix Pharmacy to provide flu shots at a series of health fairs across of Florida.

The events will cover more than 65 locations in eight counties, including Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, and will run through the middle of October. The objective is to raise awareness of the importance of an annual flu shot, while also improving accessibility to the vaccine.

Events will be held at medical centers, senior centers, community centers, parks, churches, apartment complexes, and senior living communities.

“At Devoted Health, we’re here to serve seniors in our community and we’re always looking for new and innovative ways to improve the lives of those we serve,” said Dariel Quintana, market president of Florida for Devoted Health. “We’re so thankful to be partnering with Publix, as well as our network of community partners, who will be hosting these events.”

Licensed pharmacists from Publix will be on hand to administer the shots, and every person who gets one will also receive a $10 Publix gift card. Devoted Health will provide guests of the fairs with gifts, prizes, raffles and ice cream.

Based on the most recent CDC estimates on flu vaccination coverage by state, Florida ranked 48th in the nation with only 35.6 percent of the population receiving vaccinations — just slightly ahead of Wyoming and Louisiana.

“We’ve been working hard to tackle the issue of low flu vaccination coverage in the state of Florida, and we always welcome the opportunity to work with new partners who are eager to help,” said Dain Rusk, VP of Pharmacy Operations at Publix Super Markets Inc. “We’re thrilled to partner with Devoted for these events. This initiative fits in so well with our mission to promote better health and a sense of well-being in our surrounding communities.”

According to the CDC, during last year’s flu season, the U.S. had at least 531,000 flu-related hospitalizations and upwards of 61,200 flu-related deaths. Healthcare experts are also wary of the upcoming season.

“We want to do everything we can to help people get their flu shot and part of that work is to dispel common myths,” said Dr. Neil Wagle, chief medical officer at Devoted Health. “For example, some people think if you live in a warm climate like Florida, you can’t get the flu — you can and we see it every year. And some think the flu shot can give you the flu — it can’t. There are no live viruses in the shot.”

To receive a flu shot at these events, individuals must present a valid health insurance card, but no copays will be collected at the fairs. In most cases, annual flu vaccinations are 100 percent covered by insurance.

Events will take place:

• Oct. 7 at 11 a.m. at ClareMedica of Sweetwater Creek, 5535 Memorial Highway, Tampa
• Oct. 7 at 2 p.m. at the Lightfoot Recreation Center, 10901 N. 56th St., Temple Terrace
• Oct. 8 at 11 a.m. at Clare Medica, 3031 W. Cypress St. Suite A, Tampa
• Oct. 8 at 2 p.m. at the Sunshine Senior Center, 330 5th St. N., St. Petersburg
• Oct. 9 at 11 a.m. at Enoch Davis Center, 1111 18th Ave. S., St. Petersburg
• Oct. 10 at 11 a.m. at Gulfport Senior Center, 5501 27th Ave. S., Gulfport
• Oct. 10 at 2 p.m. at Bardmoor YMCA, 8495 Bryan Dairy Road, Largo
• Oct. 11 at 11 a.m. at Pinellas Park Senior Center, 7625 59th St. N., Pinellas Park
• Oct. 11 at 2 p.m. at Cano Sun City Center, 1647 Sun City Center Plaza, Sun City Center
• Oct. 14 at 2 p.m. at Haley Park Apartments, 13045 N. 15th St., Tampa
• Oct. 16 at 2 p.m. at The Reed at ENCORE!, 1240 Ray Charles Blvd., Tampa

For a complete list of health fairs, visit the Devoted Health website.