As Number of Mumps Cases Increase Nationwide, Rite Aid Pharmacists Stand Ready to Immunize
CAMP HILL, PA, 2017-Mar-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — As the number of mumps cases increase across the country, Rite Aid pharmacists stand ready to administer the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine, subject to state regulations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported more than 1,000 cases of mumps in the U.S. since the start of 2017.1
MMR vaccinations are available upon request at Rite Aid pharmacies in 28 states and the District of Columbia, subject to state regulations, during pharmacy hours; no appointment is necessary. To locate the nearest Rite Aid pharmacy, visit www.riteaid.com or call 1-800-RITE-AID. Cost varies based on the patient’s insurance coverage and the MMR vaccine is covered by many insurance plans.
Currently, Rite Aid pharmacists in the following 28 states and the District of Columbia, are able to administer the MMR vaccine, subject to state regulations: Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.
Although young children typically receive the MMR vaccine from their primary health care providers as part of a regular vaccine schedule, the CDC recommends that people 18 years of age or older who was born after 1956 should get at least one dose of MMR vaccine unless they have either been vaccinated previously or have had all three diseases. Pregnant women should not receive an MMR vaccine.
According to the CDC, mumps is a contagious disease caused by a virus. Mumps symptoms begin with a fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite, followed by swelling of salivary glands, causing puffy cheeks and a tender, swollen jaw.
In addition to the MMR vaccine, Rite Aid certified immunizing pharmacists are able to vaccinate patients against more than a dozen diseases based on the CDC’s vaccine guidelines and state regulations. By visiting Rite Aid’s Vaccine Central, at www.riteaid.com/vaccinecentral, customers can complete an immunization evaluation, track their personal immunization history, and find other educational resources on immunizations.
Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) is one of the nation’s leading drugstore chains with nearly 4,600 stores in 31 states and the District of Columbia and fiscal 2016 annual revenues of $30.7 billion. Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is available through the company’s website at www.riteaid.com.
1. https://www.cdc.gov/mumps/outbreaks.html
Media Contact:
Kristin Kellum
717-975-5713
Source: Rite Aid Corporation