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Passport Health and the innovative ride-sharing service Uber have teamed up yet again to bring flu vaccine to UberHEALTH users free of charge – this time in Chicago. Protein Sciences Corporation, maker of the revolutionary flu vaccine – a latex-free, egg-free, and preservative-free flu vaccine – generously provided the vaccine for today’s event.
“When we heard about UberHEALTH, we knew this was a fresh approach to public health, and we wanted to play a role,” said Manon Cox, President and CEO of Protein Sciences Corporation. “We are thrilled to be able to take part in this creative partnership and bring flu vaccine to Uber users in Chicago.”
The vaccine is an exciting, new class of flu vaccine that is highly pure; it contains no egg protein, gelatin, thimerosal, latex, or influenza virus; and is manufactured in the United States using DNA and cell culture technology.
Like the first UberHEALTH events that took place last month in Boston and Washington, DC, Uber drivers will pair with registered Passport Health nurses to deliver no-cost flu vaccines and flu-prevention kits to UberHEALTH users in Chicago. The event runs today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST.
As flu season ramps up, finding ways to increase access to flu immunizations is a priority not just for Passport Health, but for public health advocates everywhere. The total economic impact of the flu is over $10 billion annually, the result of some 62 million flu cases and 226,000 hospitalizations in the United States each year.
Despite that, fewer than 40 percent of adults 18-64 years of age get their annual flu shot. In Illinois, just 35.7 percent of adults in that age range take the CDC’s recommendation to receive their yearly influenza immunization.
With fewer Americans seeking flu vaccines in a traditional setting, Passport Health knows that innovation is key to improving vaccination rates. That’s why Passport Health is excited to once again be working with UberHEALTH to bring flu prevention kits and flu vaccines directly to users.
For 20 years, Passport Health has provided its clients with protection against vaccine-preventable diseases, including the flu. This year, Passport Health launched FluFree.com, a website designed to address the growing gap between the need for vaccination and the number of people who actually chose to get vaccinated.
“People know they need to get their flu shot, but sometimes life gets in the way of taking care of your health,” said Fran Lessans, RN, MS, Founder, President and CEO of Passport Health. “That’s where partnerships like this one make such an impact. It’s hard to say no to a flu shot on demand!”
For more information on influenza, flu vaccines and flu safety, visit FluFree.com, or contact a Passport Health immunization specialist at 1-844-FLU-FREE.