Hasta La Creative!

Flu season is here, and the sneezing, coughing and runny noses are already well underway. Following one of the worst flu seasons on record, many drugstores and retail chains are hoping to persuade consumers to get vaccinated, and as early as possible.

During the 2017-2018 season, the number of reported deaths was at or above the epidemic threshold for 16 consecutive weeksthe longest duration in five yearsand overall hospitalization rates were higher than the previous record set three years earlier, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency reported that the number of pediatric deaths was especially high; a record 183 children died from the flu last season.

To avoid another severe outbreak, drugstores like Walgreens and CVS have already started to push flu-shot-related marketing. This month, Walgreens, which acquired nearly 2,000 Rite Aid stores earlier this year, began running advertising takeovers inside urban transit hubs in New York and Chicago. “Protect yourself and everyone else who walks this corridor,” and “Share a commute, not the flu,” ads urge consumers. The chain is investing more in the effort than it did last year, according to Adam Holyk, the company’s senior VP and chief marketing officer.

Continue reading at AdAge.com