DEERFIELD, Ill. — In tandem with the United Nations Foundation, Walgreen Co. is helping to provide up to 3 million vaccines to children in developing nations via a donation to the organization’s Shot@Life campaign.
Walgreens said Wednesday that through Oct. 14, it will donate the value of a life-saving vaccine — mainly for polio and measles — through Shot@Life for up to 3 million vaccines for each vaccination administered at Walgreens and Duane Reade drug stores and Healthcare Clinics.
"We’ve developed a number of innovative programs and public-private partnerships through which we’ve helped improve immunization rates in medically underserved areas, and among other targeted populations in need across the U.S.," Harry Leider, chief medical officer for Walgreens, said in a statement. "With the growing need for life-saving vaccines such as polio and measles in developing countries, we’re proud to work with the UN Foundation on this important cause that provides access to vaccines for children in need."
According to Shot@Life, one in five children worldwide lack access to life-saving immunizations, and a child dies every 20 seconds from vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, pneumonia, diarrhea and polio. The campaign focuses on educating and empowering Americans to support and advocate for decreasing vaccine-preventable childhood deaths.
"Walgreens’ generous donation will help save lives while creating a greater awareness of the need to make vaccines available to parents around the world who want to protect their children from preventable diseases," stated Kathy Calvin, president and chief executive officer of the United Nations Foundation. "Vaccines are one of the most cost-effective ways to save and improve the lives of children in developing countries by protecting them from life-threatening diseases."
