Walmart stores in California will offer free health screenings and product samples on Saturday, Jan. 24, the company announced.
Customers who visit participating Walmart pharmacies between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. can get blood pressure checks, glucose (diabetes) checks, and cholesterol checks, a BMI calculation, a vision screening, and a wellness consultation, according to the national retail chain.
The pharmacy will also hand out free product samples while supplies last. Brands depend on locally available options, but Walmart listed Celestial Seasonings, the tea and beverage company; Ricola, the cough drop maker; vitamin brand Nature’s Truth; and Nature’s Garden, the snack company, among the possible samples in the giveaway.
Attendees can also request a flu shot, with costs covered by most health insurances. Those with health insurance may also qualify for free or low-cost co-pay vaccinations, including shots for RSV, shingles, tetanus, and other diseases, the announcement said.
Since Walmart started hosting its annual Wellness Event over a decade ago, its pharmacies have provided more than 5 million free screenings nationwide. “Whether it’s the care you access, the food you buy, or the products you rely on, our goal is to make wellness easier,” said Walmart’s spokesman and health product vice president, Ralph Clare, in the announcement.
Getting freebies and vaccines depends on availability, the store cautioned.
Some Walmart pharmacies also offer birth control assessments and other health services. For more information or to find a participating store, visit walmart.com.
Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Walmart offers free health checks, product samples at wellness event
Reporting by Jessica Skropanic, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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