Rexall Launches 'Shot For Shot' Helping Deliver Life-Saving Vaccines to Children in Need

Get a flu shot at Rexall and you will help vaccinate children in northern Uganda

TORONTO, Oct. 23, 2014 /CNW/ - This flu season, Rexall partners with Amref Health Africa to launch 'Shot For Shot', a campaign committed to providing life-saving vaccinations to children that need it most.  For every flu shot administered by a Rexall pharmacist, Rexall will make a donation towards delivering vaccines to northern Uganda where vaccination rates are well below World Health Organization targets.

"Rexall is committed to improving the health and well-being of our patients and the communities we serve, and getting a flu shot is the most effective way to stay healthy this flu season," says Frank Scorpiniti, CEO, Rexall. "Our ability to have social impact is not limited to our borders. We hope Canadians will join us in our efforts to deliver life-saving vaccinations to children that need it most by getting the flu shot."

Statistics show that one in five children worldwide lack access to life-saving immunizations and a child dies every 20 seconds around the world from a vaccine-preventable disease.¹ In Uganda, 48 per cent of children under the age of five are un-immunized or under-immunized.² With this alarming realization, Rexall acknowledges the ability to reach beyond Canada, and help children abroad.

"We are proud to partner with Rexall to deliver much needed vaccinations to children in northern Uganda, a region with low childhood immunization rates.  And, we are pleased to be working in partnership with Uganda's Ministry of Health as part of its scheduled vaccination campaign," says Anne-Marie Kamanye, Executive Director of Amref Health Africa in Canada.  "Statistics show that vaccination rates in northern Uganda are well below World Health Organization targets. We are working with communities and the government to change these numbers and welcome the support of Canadians through Rexall's Shot for Shot program."

Getting the flu shot is the best way to prevent the flu.  According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, the flu affects 10 to 20 per cent of Canadians each year. While the majority who become sick do recover, it is estimated that approximately 12,200 are hospitalizations and, on average, 3,500 Canadians die each year.³ Publicly funded flu shots will be available at every Rexall store as supply is made available by public health units.

About Amref Health Africa

Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya and with 55 years of experience, Amref Health Africa is the leading African public health organization. Recipients of both the Bill and Melinda Gates Award for Global Health and the Hilton Humanitarian Prize, Amref Health Africa partners with communities to improve health. Amref Health Africa tackles some of the most critical health challenges facing the continent: maternal and child care, HIV & TB, malaria, clean water and sanitation and surgical and clinical outreach.

About Rexall

With a heritage dating back to 1904, Rexall and Rexall Pharma Plus pharmacies are among the most trusted names in retail pharmacy. Rexall is focused on helping Canadians feel good about their health through easy access to a wide assortment of health and wellness services and products. Supported by our team of 9,000 employees in 457 pharmacies across the country, Rexall is continually evolving to enhance the customer experience. For more information visit Rexall.ca.

¹ http://www.gatesfoundation.org/what-we-do/global-development/vaccine-delivery
² 2011 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey
³ http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/influenza/flu-stat-eng.php.

SOURCE: Rexall

Kate Burkholder, PUBLIC Inc., [email protected], 647.282.0436; Derek Tupling, Rexall, [email protected], 905.501.7894; Jennifer Foulds, Amref Health Africa, [email protected], 647.771.5815