Greater Than HIV & Walgreens Free In-Store HIV Testing Activation

June 2016

For the sixth year in a row, Greater Than HIV and Walgreens, one of the nation’s largest drugstore chains, teamed up with health departments and AIDS service organizations (ASOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) to provide free HIV testing in Walgreens stores over three days in June, coinciding with National HIV Testing Day (June 27). The activation is conducted as part of a broader, ongoing effort between Greater Than HIV and Walgreens to extend the reach of HIV information, including newer prevention strategies like Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), and services to high-incidence areas.

A total of 216 health departments and ASOs/CBOs worked with Walgreens and Greater Than HIV to conduct 6,904 tests at 246 Walgreens stores in 142 cities from June 23-25, 2016. Alere North America, BioLytical Laboratories, and OraSure Technologies supported the activation with donated test kits to expand testing in areas of greatest need.

The average number of tests conducted per store per day nationally was 10.5 (approximately 31 tests conducted on average per store over the three-day promotion period); with a high of 180 tests at one store over the three-day period. At most locations, results were available on-site within minutes.

The Greater Than HIV and Walgreens collaboration, started in 2010, has resulted in 35,000 tests during these testing windows. In some areas, local partners work with Walgreens year-round to offer testing.

Testing Partners

Greater Than HIV and Walgreens teamed with 59 city, county, and state health departments, along with 157 ASOs/CBOs in 29 states. Many of the testing partners have continued to participate across the six-year event. See Appendix A for a full list of partners.

Free HIV testing was available at select Walgreens locations on Thursday, June 23 (3-7 PM), Friday, June 24 (3-7 PM) and Saturday, June 25 (10 AM – 2 PM). Some stores held alternate testing hours.

Promotions and Community Outreach

Targeted in-store promotions, media outreach and paid promotions supported the activation and increased attention to HIV testing.

Posters and audio messages were placed in participating Walgreens stores leading up to the event. Throughout the promotion period, testing teams in participating stores wore “Together We Are Greater Than HIV” t-shirts. Each person who got tested received an “I Got Tested” sticker and all those who stopped by were given an “I Got Tested: What’s Next?” brochure, a new informational resource from Greater Than HIV and Walgreens which helps people navigate next steps, whether they test positive or negative.

Walgreens outreach efforts resulted in 135 media partners, including with local ABC, CBS and NBC affiliates, SiriusXM, Black Doctor, and
many more. Walgreens also secured promotions with a variety of media, including Instagram influencers, other digital, radio, print, circulars and more, resulting in more than 70 million impressions. Some health departments and local testing partners supported live radio remote broadcasts and other paid media promotions in their markets.

National organizations and community partners across the country, including AIDS.gov, NAESM, NBLCA, Black AIDS Institute, Tyler Curry, and many more helped amplify the message on social media. In June 2016, Greater Than HIV tracked 920 mentions of #IGotTested and #NHTD on Twitter, Tumblr, and other sites, resulting in 1.8 million potential impressions. Due to privacy settings it is not possible to track responses on all social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and others.

Appendix A. List of Partners

Alabama
- Alabama Department of Public Health
- Birmingham AIDS Outreach
- Medical AIDS Outreach
- Mobile County Health Department
- Selma AIR
- Thrive Alabama
- Tuscaloosa County Health Department
- West Alabama AIDS Outreach
- West Alabama HIV Prevention Network
- Whatley Health Services
Arizona
- Arizona Department of Health Services
- COPE Community Services
- Ebony House, Inc.
- Maricopa County Department of Public Health
- Native Health
- Pima County Health Department
- Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation
- TERROS
Arkansas
- Arkansas AIDS Foundation
California
- Alameda County Public Health Department
- APEB (AIDS Project East Bay)
- Asian Health Services
- Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team
- Cal-PEP
- Charles R. Drew University
- East Valley Health Corporation / Community Health Center
- El Proyecto de Barrio
- JWCH Institute
- La Clinica De La Raza
- Los Angeles County Department of Health Services
- Minority AIDS Project
- San Diego Health and Human Services
- San Francisco Department of Public Health
- San Mateo County STD/HIV Program
- San Ysidro Health Center
- Santa Clara County Public Health Department
- The LGBTQ Center of Long Beach
- UCSF – Alliance Health Project
Colorado
- Denver Colorado AIDS Project
Delaware
- Beautiful Gate Outreach
- Delaware HIV Consortium
Florida
- AIDS Healthcare Foundation
- Borinquen Health Care Center
- Broward County Health Department
- Broward House
- Care Resource
- Citrus County Health Department
- Community Health Center of West Palm Beach
- Community Health of South Florida
- Empower U, Inc.
- Escambia County Health Department
- Florida Department of Health
- FoundCare – CAP
- Genesis Community Health
- Hernando County Health Department
- Holy Cross Hospital Community Outreach
- Hope and Health Center of Central Florida
- Jessie Trice Community Health Center
- Latinos Salud
- Metro Wellness and Community Centers
- Miami-Dade County Health Department
- Orange County Health Department
- Palm Beach County Health Department
- Pinellas County Health Department
- Pride Center
- Pridelines
- The Village / WestCare
- Unconditional Love
Georgia
- AID Gwinnett (Positive Impact Health Centers)
- Aniz, Inc.
- Atlanta Harm Reduction Coalition
- CARE, Inc.
- Clayton County Board of Health
- Coastal Health District
- Fulton County Department of Health & Wellness
- Mercy Care
- National AIDS Education and Services for Minorities (NAESM)
- Recovery Consultants of Atlanta
- SisterLove
- Southwest Georgia Public Health 8-2
Illinois
- Beyond Care, Inc.
- Brothers Health Collective
- Chicago Department of Public Health
- Illinois Department of Public Health
- Lawndale Christian Health Center
- MADE
- Project VIDA
- South Suburban HIV/AIDS Regional Clinics (SSHARC)
- Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation
- Clair County Health Department
- University of Chicago Medicine / Care2Prevent
Indiana
- AIDS Ministries / AIDS Assist
- Aliveness Project of NWI
- Community HealthNet
- Indiana State Department of Health
- Positive Link
- The Damien Center
- Vigo County Health Department
Iowa
- Scott County Health Department
Kentucky
- AIDS Volunteers, Inc. (AVOL)
- Matthew 25 AIDS Services, Inc. (KY/IN)
- Northern Kentucky Health Department
- Volunteers of America KY
Louisiana
- Brotherhood, Inc.
- HAART
- Institute of Women and Ethnic Studies
- Louisiana Department of Health & Hospitals
- Metro Health
- NO/AIDS Task Force (CrescentCare)
- Priority Health Care
- The Philadelphia Center
- The Right Choice Project HIV/AIDS Awareness Program
- Volunteers of America GNO
Maryland
- Baltimore City Health Department
- Johns Hopkins Medicine
- Maryland Department of Health & Mental Hygiene
- Star Track
Michigan
- Genesee County Health Department
- Gospel Against AIDS
- MAC (Michigan AIDS Coalition) Health
- Michigan Department of Community Health
- UNIFIED (HIV/AIDS Resource Center)
- Wellness Services
Minnesota
- Minnesota AIDS Project
- Minnesota Department of Health
Mississippi
- Mississippi State Department of Health
- My Brother’s Keeper South
Missouri
- Kansas City CARE Clinic
- Williams & Associates
New Jersey
- Buddies of NJ, Inc.
- Michael’s Medical Center
New York
- After Hours Project
- AIDS Center of Queens County
- ASCNYC
- Brooklyn Men (K)onnect (Bridging Access to Care)
- O.P.E.
- Community Access Services of WNY
- Haitian Centers Council / Haitian-American Community Coalition
- Harlem Hospital
- Housing Works, Inc.
- Long Island Association for AIDS Care
- Love and Light, Inc.
- National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS (NBLCA)
- New York State Department of Health
- Project Street Beat
- The Family Center
- The HEAT Program
- Trillium Health
- Unity Fellowship Breaking Ground
- Vocational Instruction Project (VIP)
- William F. Ryan Community Health Center
North Carolina
- Alliance of AIDS Services – Carolina
- Carolina Family Health Center
- Durham County Department of Public Health
- Forsyth County Department of Public Health
- Guilford County Health Department
- Mecklenburg County Health Department
- Nash County Health Department
- NIA Community Action Center
- OIC of Wilson
- Piedmont Health Services and Sickle Cell Agency
- Pitt County AIDS Service Org (PiCASO)
- Triangle Empowerment Center
- Wilson County Health Department
Ohio
- Care Alliance Health Center
- Cleveland Department of Public Health
- Columbus Public Health
- Nationwide Children’s Hospital
- Safe on the Scene Project
Oklahoma
- MAMA Knows, Inc.
- Oklahoma State Department of Health
Pennsylvania
- AccessMatters
- Dorothy Mann Center at St. Christopher’s Hospital
- Montgomery County Health Department
- Philadelphia Department of Public Health
- Philadelphia FIGHT
South Carolina
- HopeHealth
- Lowcountry AIDS Services
- Palmetto AIDS Life Support Services (PALSS)
- South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
Tennessee
- Chattanooga CARES
- Friends for Life
- Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center
- Metropolitan Interdenominational Church
- Nashville / Davidson County Metro Public Health Department
- Nashville CARES
- Partnership to End AIDS Status
- Positively Living
- Street Works
- Tennessee Department of Health
Texas
- Abounding Prosperity
- AIDS Arms, Inc.
- AIDS Foundation Houston
- AIDS Services of Austin
- Alamo Area Resource Center
- Amarillo Department of Public Health
- Austin/Travis County Health & Human Services
- Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas
- Legacy Community Health Services
- Positive Efforts
- San Antonio AIDS Foundation
- UT Southwestern Medical Center – DFAN
Virginia
- ACCESS AIDS Care
- Central Virginia Health District
- Council of Community Services – Drop-In Center
- Fan Free Clinic
- Fredericksburg Area HIV/AIDS Support Services (FAHASS)
- Horizon Behavioral Health
- International Black Women’s Congress
- Minority AIDS Support Services
- Minority Health Consortium
- Nationz Foundation
- NovaSalud
- Peninsula Health District
- Virginia Department of Health
Washington
- Pierce County AIDS Foundation

Appendix B. Non-Representative Demographic Information

Greater Than HIV requested that ASOs/CBOs provide client demographic sheets that they normally fill out for state and local reporting requirements, without personal identifying information such as name or address. This request was optional and was intended to provide demographic information about those seeking testing, while not placing an additional data collection burden on the ASOs/CBOs.

Greater Than HIV received 589 usable reports of individual demographic information from 15 organizations, representing 24 stores in 18 cities (12 states).

The 589 demographic reports represent approximately 9% of those who were tested in the period. The demographics are not intended to be representative of all 6,904 who received an HIV test.

The demographics reported include:

Race/Ethnicity

67% Black
18% white
5% Latino
4% other
5% no information given

Gender

55% female
45% male
<1% transgender

Age

13% 25 and younger
35% 26 and older
52% no information given

Orientation

33% Heterosexual
10% MSM
1% IDU
<1% MSM-IDU
2% Other
55% No information given

Appendix C. National Press Release

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Walgreens and Greater Than HIV Team Up in National Effort to Encourage HIV Testing and Prevention

Select Walgreens Locations in 150 Cities Across the Nation to Host Free HIV Testing Events June 23 – 25, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, New Orleans and Memphis, Among Other Cities

DEERFIELD, Ill., June 14, 2016 – In the lead up to National HIV Testing Day on June 27, Walgreens and Greater Than HIV, a leading national public information response to the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic, are teaming with health departments and local AIDS service organizations (ASOs) to offer free HIV testing and counseling about new prevention strategies, including Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).

Testing will take place at select Walgreens stores in 150 participating cities, June 23-25:

Thursday, June 23 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday, June 24 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Results are provided on site by trained counselors. Alere North America, bioLytical Laboratories and OraSure have donated test kits for the activation.

For a complete list of participating Walgreens locations and supporting partners, as well as more information about HIV testing, including year-round testing sites, visit www.greaterthan.org/walgreens.

Why get tested? While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that all Americans be screened for HIV as a part of routine health care [1], many Americans have never been tested or are not being tested as often as recommended. According to national surveys by the Kaiser Family Foundation 43 percent of Americans report never having been tested, and another 37 percent say they have not been tested in a year or longer. With early diagnosis and treatment, someone with HIV can live a healthy normal lifespan.

“This month marks 35 years since the first case of HIV. We’ve come a long way, but getting tested is a critical first step in staying healthy regardless of status,” said Tina Hoff, senior vice president and director of health communication and media partnerships at the Kaiser Family Foundation, which leads Greater Than HIV.

Richard Ashworth, president of pharmacy and retail operations for Walgreens, said, “We are fortunate to have a strong presence in — and close relationship with — communities across America, making us uniquely suited to serve those living with HIV or at risk of being exposed to HIV. It’s one of the best ways I know to champion everyone’s right to be happy and healthy.”

“HIV is still a real and serious disease. But with the right treatment and care, people living with HIV can expect to live as long as the average person,” said Glen Pietrandoni, pharmacist and senior director of virology, specialty products and services at Walgreens. “So it’s important to take control of your health by getting a test and learning your status. If negative, there are now prevention options like PrEP, which can help prevent you from getting HIV if you are exposed to the virus. If positive, getting into care early makes a big difference in the long run.”

I Got Tested: What’s Next?, an informational guide available in both English and Spanish from Greater Than HIV and Walgreens, will be distributed at hundreds of HIV-specialized pharmacies and through local partners in June. The guide includes information about the benefits of early treatment and PrEP.

PrEP is available by prescription to help people who are HIV negative stay negative. When taken as prescribed, PrEP has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection by more than 90 percent⁴. Condoms should be used for added protection and to protect against other sexually transmitted diseases. More information about PrEP is available at http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/prep.html.

About Walgreens

Walgreens (www.walgreens.com), one of the nation’s largest drugstore chains, is included in the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. More than 8 million customers interact with Walgreens each day in communities across America, using the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice. Walgreens operates 8,173 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Walgreens digital business includes Walgreens.com, drugstore.com, Beauty.com and VisionDirect.com. More than 400 Walgreens stores offer Healthcare Clinic or other provider retail clinic services.

About Greater Than HIV

Greater Than HIV is a leading national public information response focused on the U.S. domestic epidemic. Launched in 2009 by the Kaiser Family Foundation together with the Black AIDS Institute, it is supported today by a broad coalition of public and private sector partners, including: major media and other business leaders; Federal, state and local health agencies and departments; national leadership groups; AIDS service and other community organizations; and foundations, among others. Through targeted media messages and community outreach, Greater Than HIV works to increase knowledge, reduce stigma and promote actions to stem the spread of the disease. While national in scope, Greater Than HIV focuses on communities most affected.

About Kaiser Family Foundation

The Kaiser Family Foundation, a leader in health policy analysis, health journalism and communication, is dedicated to filling the need for trusted, independent information on the major health issues facing our nation and its people. The Foundation is a non-profit private operating foundation based in Menlo Park, California.

[1] Branson BM, Handsfield HH, Lampe MA, et al. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Revised recommendations for HIV testing of adults, adolescents, and pregnant women in health-care settings. MMWR. 2006;55(RR14):1-17.

Filling the need for trusted information on national health issues, the Kaiser Family Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in Menlo Park, California.

Contact:

Katie Smith | (202) 347-5270 | ksmith@kff.org

Appendix D. Local Press Release Template

** Embargoed until June 14, 2016**

[LOCAL PARTNER LOGO(s)]

[LOCAL PARTNER NAME], WALGREENS AND GREATER THAN AIDS TEAM UP IN EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE HIV TESTING AND PREVENTION IN [NAME OF LOCAL CITY]

Select Walgreens Locations to Host Free HIV Testing Events June 23 – 25 in [NAME OF LOCAL CITY]

Contact

[INSERT YOUR AGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT DETAILS]

Jim Graham

Walgreens

jim.graham@walgreens.com

Katie Smith

Kaiser Family Foundation

katies@kff.org

[INSERT LOCATION], June X, 2016 – In the lead up to National HIV Testing Day on June 27, [INSERT NAME(S) OF TESTING PARTNER AND/OR HEALTH DEPARTMENT] is teaming with Walgreens and Greater Than HIV, a leading national public information response to the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic, to encourage community members to know their HIV status and take advantage of free HIV testing and counseling about new prevention strategies, including Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), at select Walgreens locations in [STATE].

Testing will take place at select Walgreens stores in 150 participating cities, June 23-25:

Thursday, June 23 from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Friday, June 24 from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 25 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Results are provided on site by trained counselors. Alere North America, bioLytical Laboratories and OraSure have donated test kits for the activation.

For a complete list of participating Walgreens locations and supporting partners, as well as more information about HIV testing, including year-round testing sites, visit www.greaterthan.org/walgreens.

[INSERT NAME(S) OF TESTING PARTNER AND/OR HEALTH DEPARTMENT] will provide trained counselors to conduct the testing and will provide results on-site within minutes.

Why get tested? While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that all Americans be screened for HIV as a part of routine health care[1], many Americans have never been tested or are not being tested as often as recommended. According to national surveys by the Kaiser Family Foundation 43 percent of Americans report never having been tested, and another 37 percent say they have not been tested in a year or longer. With early diagnosis and treatment, someone with HIV can live a healthy normal lifespan.

[INSERT LOCAL STATISTICS]

[INSERT QUOTE FROM ORGANIZATION LEAD ABOUT SIGNIFICANCE OF PROVIDING LOCAL/COMMUNITY TESTING]

About [INSERT NAME OF TESTING PARTNER/HEALTH DEPARTMENT]

[INSERT INFORMATION ON TESTING PARTNER/HEALTH DEPARTMENT]

About Walgreens

Walgreens (www.walgreens.com), one of the nation’s largest drugstore chains, is included in the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. More than 8 million customers interact with Walgreens each day in communities across America, using the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice. Walgreens operates 8,173 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Walgreens digital business includes Walgreens.com, drugstore.com, Beauty.com and VisionDirect.com. More than 400 Walgreens stores offer Healthcare Clinic or other provider retail clinic services.

About Greater Than HIV

# # #