With flu-season in full swing, Walmart stores across West Michigan are offering free wellness checks and flu shots this Saturday. The "Walmart Wellness Day" is a free health event for Walmart customers, that begain in 2014, and according to the retail giant, Walmart has conducted more than 4.4 million free screenings over the past 6 years.
On Saturday in West Michigan’s 22 stores, customers will have the opportunity to get discounted flu shots, immunizations, and free health screenings that include total Cholesterol, Glucose, Blood Pressure, BMI and eye exams, provided that the location is equipped with a vision center.
Anne Hatfield is the director of Walmart Global Communications. She says the screenings have ultimately saved lives over the past 6 years.
“90 percent of US residents live within 10 miles of a Walmart, so that provides so much opportunity to serve customers across the country," Hatfield said. "You know we have countless stories of individuals learning about a medical condition for the very first time after they attended one of our Walmart Wellness events--it prompted them to seek medical care, and in some cases, that care saved their life."
According to the Center for Disease Control and registry, flu activity is high in the U.S. and is expected to continue for weeks. More than 170 million flu vaccines have been distributed this flu season, but that’s only around half of the U.S. The free Wellness checks are set for this Saturday.
Daniel Boothe, WGVU NEWS