Kroger Health to provide flu shots Sept. 19 at The Diamond

Kroger Health, the healthcare division of The Kroger Co., will hold a flu shot event Sept. 19 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot of The Diamond on Arthur Ashe Boulevard in Richmond. With the majority of insurance plans, the flu shots come at no cost to patients.

Kroger Health's flu program also includes touchless in-store appointments and drive-thru vaccinations at community flu centers nationwide. To receive a flu shot, customers and associates can make an appointment online by visiting krogerhealth.com/flu.  Before scheduling an appointment, customers will be asked to complete a vaccine consent online to reduce pen and paper sharing and help enforce social distancing.

Kroger also will provide on-site flu shot programs and vaccine clinics for businesses and organizations, with flu shots administered by Kroger Health pharmacists or nurse practitioners.

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention estimates that in an average flu season, eight percent of the U.S. population gets sick from the flu, with an average of 500,000 flu-related hospitalizations. Since March, more than 345,000 Americans have already been hospitalized as a result of COVID-19, marking the potential for a significant burden on the already taxed healthcare system.

“It will be very difficult for people to determine the difference between flu symptoms and COVID-19,” said Doug Cornelius, national health and wellness director, Kroger Health. “That’s why it’s so important for Americans to get a flu shot this year. It not only has been proven to help protect against the flu, but it will also help prevent misidentification as COVID-19.”

For details, visit krogerhealth.com.