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Retail News Breaks Archives With H1N1 vaccine now widely available, Kerr Drug is urging customers to get immunized and not mistakenly interpret the thus-far moderate flu season as a sign that virus activity is waning. Pharmacy chains and food and drug retailers are answering the call for help in the Haiti earthquake disaster by providing cash donations and enabling employees and customers to donate to relief efforts. In another round of personnel moves, Walgreen Co. has promoted three vice presidents, including its pharmacy chief. Duane Reade is launching a new customer rewards program called FlexRewards that it said will be easier for shoppers to use plus offer more rewards and lower prices. HealthyPharmacies.org, a health and wellness retail initiative launched by Elephant Pharmacy founder Stuart Skorman, plans a series of "pharmacy of the future" pilot programs this summer. CVS Caremark Corp. has launched an e-commerce web site for its Beauty 360 prestige beauty stores. Hy-Vee Inc. has partnered with Amber Pharmacy to form Hy-Vee Pharmacy Solutions, a joint venture aimed at providing specialty pharmacy services through the food and drug retailer's stores. Food and drug retailer Publix is offering customers special pricing on immunizations for the H1N1 flu virus to coincide with National Influenza Vaccination Week. Citing continued cuts in pharmacy reimbursements, Walgreen Co. is set to pull about half of its pharmacies in Washington from the state's Medicaid program next month. Pharmacy industry leaders say health care reform will form the backdrop of whatever course the sector takes in 2010. Duane Reade is making it easier for students, faculty and staff at Manhattan's Hunter College to receive H1N1 flu vaccinations. Rite Aid Corp. is launching a national vaccination and education campaign for shingles, a painful nerve disease that the pharmacy chain said strikes 1 million U.S. adults annually. At select drug stores, Walgreen Co. is rolling out a self-care educational program for people with chronic conditions. With drug chains now in full rollout mode for H1N1 immunizations, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores trumpeted community pharmacy's role as a vaccine provider in a letter this week to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Walgreen Co. plans to acquire Snyders Drug Stores' 25 company-owned stores in Minnesota from Katz Group North America. CVS Caremark Corp. is raising its quarterly dividend by 15%, citing its robust financials and positive growth outlook. Jean Coutu Group Inc. posted robust sales growth and improved earnings and operating results for its fiscal 2010 third quarter. The nation's biggest drug store chains are touting their broad availability of H1N1 vaccine as National Influenza Vaccination Week gets under way. A new study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) provides major support for community pharmacy in its effort to achieve reform of Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement rates. The study was undertaken at the request of Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa).
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