Walgreen Boots Stock Price, News & Analysis

Walgreens has announced that eligible individuals can now receive Pfizer COVID-19 booster vaccinations along with flu shots in stores across the U.S. This follows FDA Emergency Use Authorization and CDC guidance. Eligible populations include individuals aged 65 and older, those in long-term care, and others with underlying conditions. Patients can schedule appointments through Walgreens' website or by phone. Additionally, Walgreens is offering a $5 reward for those who receive vaccinations in-store, promoting community health and convenience.

Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) has announced a majority investment of approximately $970 million in Shields Health Solutions, increasing its ownership to 71%. This partnership aims to enhance innovative healthcare models and further develop health system partnerships, particularly in managing complex chronic conditions. Following this investment, Shields will operate independently while its financials will be consolidated by WBA, potentially becoming modestly accretive in its first full year. The transaction is expected to close by the end of WBA's second fiscal quarter in 2022.

Walgreens has announced new bonuses and rewards for its pharmacy teams, including a $1,250 bonus for full-time pharmacists and $1,000 for part-time pharmacists, to be paid in September 2021. Certified pharmacy technicians will also receive a $1,000 reward if they administer flu and COVID-19 vaccines. Additionally, Walgreens is incentivizing team members with $200 in myWalgreens cash for COVID-19 vaccinations completed by November 30, 2021. These initiatives aim to support employee dedication amidst ongoing COVID-19 efforts.

Walgreens (WBA) and Northwell Health announced a five-year strategic affiliation aimed at enhancing health equity and improving the health of populations in New York State. This partnership will focus on innovative health care delivery models that reduce costs and improve access and quality of care. Collaborative efforts include digital services, retail pharmacy offerings, and making Walgreens an in-network pharmacy for Northwell employees. This initiative also aims to expand telehealth services and explore retail health clinics in underserved areas.

Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) will announce its fourth quarter and fiscal 2021 earnings results on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, at 7 a.m. Eastern time, along with supplementary financial slides. Following this, a Virtual Investor Conference will be held at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time, led by WBA’s global leadership team, discussing future strategic priorities and initial outlook for fiscal 2022. Investors can access a live simulcast and presentation materials on WBA’s investor relations website.

Blue Shield of California and Walgreens announced a collaboration to improve healthcare access for Californians, focusing on cost reduction and innovative consumer services. The initiative will debut Walgreens Health Corner™ services, enhancing care through health advisors like pharmacists and dieticians. Initially, eligible Blue Shield members will access services such as blood pressure screenings and A1C blood tests. The program aims to expand further in 2022, promoting holistic health solutions. This partnership supports Blue Shield's 'Health Reimagined' strategy to enhance care quality across communities.

Walgreens is expanding its mobile clinic initiative to provide COVID-19 and flu vaccinations at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) across the nation. This initiative, responding to the surge of the delta variant, aims to enhance accessibility in underserved areas. The mobile clinic will visit over a dozen locations, including prominent football games, helping to tackle vaccination hesitancy. Walgreens has already set up approximately 1,300 off-site vaccination clinics nationwide, collaborating with local organizations to improve healthcare access.

Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) and VillageMD have announced plans to open 600 primary care clinics across over 30 U.S. markets within the next four years. The partnership aims to enhance healthcare delivery by integrating primary care services at Walgreens locations. Recently, they launched 18 Village Medical clinics in the Phoenix area, with four more expected by year-end. This initiative will create over 800 jobs in Arizona and address chronic illnesses, improving access to comprehensive care by combining pharmacy services with in-person and telehealth options.

Walgreens has launched Scarlet, a bank account and debit card powered by Mastercard and issued by MetaBank, to enhance financial wellness for customers. Available at over 9,000 Walgreens locations and online, Scarlet offers 3% Walgreens Cash rewards on eligible purchases, alongside personal finance tools. Accountholders receive features like $10 statement credits for initial spending, free direct deposits, and extensive ATM access. This initiative represents Walgreens' ongoing commitment to improving financial services and customer engagement.