Free Flu Shots for the Uninsured

Released on 9.20.10 from CVS Caremark and Cornerstone Medical Clinic

Fort Worth, Texas, September 20, 2010: Cornerstone Medical Clinic announced that beginning today, it will offer free flu shots to patients who lack health insurance, as part of a donation from CVS Caremark, the largest pharmacy health care provider in the United States. CVS Caremark is partnering with Direct Relief USA to offer up to $5 million in free flu shots nationwide to community clinic and health center patients who are uninsured. Direct Relief USA is a non-profit organization that works with 1,100 clinics and health centers in all 50 states, providing them with free medications and supplies for their low-income and uninsured patients.

Cornerstone Medical Clinic will identify uninsured individuals from its existing patient population in order to provide them with a free flu shot voucher. The vouchers are redeemable at any CVS/pharmacy or MinuteClinic located nationwide.

"We are grateful for the generous donation from CVS Caremark," says Jesse Vasquez, Director of Community Services at Cornerstone Medical Clinic. "Many of our patients who are in a tough financial situation will now have access to a flu shot, and will be able to better ensure they stay healthy this flu season."

"The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that everyone receive a flu shot this year, and we want to make sure that as many people as possible are able to obtain a flu shot, including patients for whom cost may be a barrier," said Larry Merlo, President and COO, CVS Caremark. "We are pleased to partner with Cornerstone Medical Clinic and Direct Relief USA to help accomplish that goal."

"Thanks to Cornerstone Medical Clinic and the more than 340 clinics and health centers participating in this program nationwide, thousands of uninsured individuals will now have access to flu protection," said Thomas Tighe, President and CEO of Direct Relief." Cornerstone Medical Clinic and CVS Caremark are to be commended for helping to address an annual public health risk."

CVS pharmacy has more than 7,000 locations and MinuteClinic has more than 500 locations inside select CVS/pharmacy stores. Customers can make an appointment to receive a flu shot from a CVS pharmacist at the time, date and location of their choice by using the My Flu Shot Scheduler available at www.cvs.com/flu or by calling toll-free 1-888-FLU-SHOT (1-888-88-GRIPE) for Spanish. MinuteClinic nurse practitioners are available to provide vaccinations 7 days a week during regular business hours with no appointment required.

MinuteClinic nurse practitioners can vaccinate patients who are 18 months or older except in Massachusetts, where the minimum age is 24 months. The minimum age for vaccinations by a pharmacist varies depending on the state. Check with your local CVS/pharmacy or visit www.cvs.com/flu to determine minimum vaccination age by state.

CVS Caremark is the largest pharmacy health care provider in the United States. Through our integrated offerings across the entire spectrum of pharmacy care, we are uniquely positioned to provide greater access, to engage plan members in behaviors that improve their health and to lower overall health care costs for health plans, plan sponsors and their members. CVS Caremark is a market leader in mail order pharmacy, retail pharmacy, specialty pharmacy, and retail clinics, and is a leading provider of Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans. As one of the country's largest pharmacy benefits managers (PBM's), we provide access to a network of more than 64,000 pharmacies, including approximately 7,000 CVS/pharmacy(R) stores that provide unparalleled service and capabilities. Our clinical expertise includes one of the industry's most comprehensive disease management programs. General information about CVS Caremark is available through the company's Web site at http://info.cvscaremark.com/.

Founded in 1948, Direct Relief is a Santa Barbara, California-based nonprofit organization focused on improving quality of life by bringing critically needed medicines and supplies to local health care providers worldwide. Direct Relief has provided more than $1 billion in privately funded humanitarian aid since 2000, including more than $200 million in assistance in the United States. It has earned a fundraising efficiency score of 99 percent or better from Forbes for the past eight years, and is ranked by the Chronicle of Philanthropy as California's largest international nonprofit organization based on private support. For more information, please visit www.DirectRelief.org.