Walgreens Healthcare Clinics to Offer Testing Services for Sexually Transmitted Infections, Including HIV, Hepatitis and Others

In addition, Healthcare Clinics in the Houston market will begin
prescribing PrEP for HIV prevention April 25

DEERFIELD, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Beginning April 25, Walgreens Healthcare Clinic locations in select
markets will offer testing services for sexually transmitted infections
(STIs), including HIV, Hepatitis B and C, chlamydia, gonorrhea and other
conditions.

As part of the services, which will be offered in Cincinnati, Cleveland,
Columbus (Ohio), Dallas, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Knoxville, Las
Vegas, Louisville, Memphis, Nashville, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix,
Tucson, Washington D.C., and Wichita, Healthcare Clinic providers –
nurse practitioners and physician assistants – will first conduct a
consultation with the patient and, as applicable, conduct the STI
testing process. The method of testing varies based on the type of
condition being assessed. Healthcare Clinic providers can offer
treatment or a referral to a specialist, as needed.

In addition to STI testing, Walgreens is also furthering its commitment
to supporting communities impacted by HIV through prevention and early
detection services. On April 25, providers at Walgreens Healthcare
Clinics in the Houston area, can begin prescribing PrEP (Pre-Exposure
Prophylaxis), a medication protocol for people who don’t have HIV to
help proactively protect against HIV infection. When taken daily as
directed, PrEP can reduce the risk of HIV infection by more than 90
percent when used consistently.

Following an initial PrEP consultation with a patient, Healthcare Clinic
providers will be able to conduct tests for HIV and other STIs, as
needed. Upon review of test results, providers will conduct a follow-up
visit and may prescribe PrEP, as necessary.

“Offering these new services in our Healthcare Clinics demonstrates our
ongoing commitment to improving the comprehensive health and wellbeing
of our patients,” said Pat Carroll, MD, chief medical officer for
Walgreens Healthcare Clinics. “We’re proud to introduce the testing
services during STD Awareness Month in April, and support the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in raising public awareness
about the impact that STDs – the diseases that can develop from STIs –
can have on the lives of Americans and the importance of testing and
prevention.”

Glen Pietrandoni, Walgreens senior director, virology disease state,
said, “With our long history of working with the HIV/AIDS community, we
are as committed as ever to the ongoing, incredible advancement in HIV
testing, prevention and treatment that has occurred over the last
decade, and to providing greater access to high quality testing and
prevention services through the clinics and our pharmacies.”

Also, as part of this commitment, Walgreens pharmacy staff and store
managers chain-wide will be completing HIV Continuing Education (CE)
training courses. The curriculum includes a Walgreens-developed HIV
stigma course as well as a HIV prevention course developed by Walgreens
in collaboration with the National Alliance of HIV Education and
Workforce Development (NAHEWD). The educational training also includes
tools for improving adherence to PrEP.

Pietrandoni said, “With this training, our pharmacy staff will be even
more equipped to offer one-on-one medication counseling and other
support services that provide our patients living with HIV/AIDS and
their families, as well as those at risk for HIV, with compassionate,
confidential care.”

Walgreens also collaborates with health departments and local AIDS
service organizations to help provide free HIV testing as part of an
ongoing effort to broaden the reach of HIV information and testing in
non-traditional settings and to support local organizations’ outreach
efforts.

About Walgreens

Walgreens (www.walgreens.com),
one of the nation’s largest drugstore chains, is included in the Retail
Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBA),
the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. More
than 10 million customers interact with Walgreens each day in
communities across America, using the most convenient, multichannel
access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective
pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice. Walgreens operates
8,175 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of
Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with its
omnichannel business, Walgreens.com. Approximately 400 Walgreens stores
offer Healthcare Clinic or other provider retail clinic services.

Contacts

Walgreens
Scott Goldberg
847-315-7649
scott.goldberg@walgreens.com

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