Walgreens offers new type of gift card ... for flu shots

Walgreens is offering a new type of gift card perfect for flu season.

The Deerfield-based retailer is offering a flu shot gift card.

Walgreens, the largest retail provider of flu prevention services with more than 24,000 certified immunizers, has introduced the card as a way to help more people stay well throughout the upcoming flu season by giving the gift of a flu shot.

"Whether you have college kids going back to school or have friends, co-workers or family members you want to protect this flu season, the flu shot gift card is a thoughtful way to make it even easier for them to get a flu shot at Walgreens," said Kermit R. Crawford, Walgreens executive vice president of pharmacy.

Flu shot gift cards are available at all of the more than 7,500 Walgreens stores nationwide and will soon be available through Walgreens.com. The cards cost $29.99 and are good for one flu shot at any Walgreens pharmacy or Take Care Clinic nationwide, once locations receive the flu vaccine and while supplies last.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only one flu shot will be required this season for protection against both H1N1 and seasonal flu. Each year, flu vaccine is manufactured to protect against the three viruses or flu strains that research suggests will be most common. The 2010-2011 vaccine will protect against the 2009 H1N1 virus, an influenza A H3N2 virus and an influenza B virus.