Pharmacy Manager Bill Devanney, #499, Melbourne Beach, Fla., knows how bad having the flu can be. When he caught it in 2005, it led to double pneumonia which took him nearly six months to recover from.  The lesson he learned that year — never miss a flu shot.

Bill decided to become a pharmacist for two reasons — to make his dad proud and to help people. He’s been doing both for nearly 30 years. Bill first came to Publix in 1997, and after a three-year break in service, returned to the pharmacy he loved in 2008.

“I wanted to try something different, but it didn’t take me long to realize Publix was the place for me,” said Bill. “I missed the family atmosphere and camaraderie, and especially the connections I had with my co-workers and customers.”

It may sound odd, but Bill’s favorite time of year is flu season. It’s the time of year he gets to know his customers the best.

“When someone comes in to get a flu shot, I get to spend a few uninterrupted minutes with them,” said Bill. “I learn about their lives, their families, their favorite sports teams, and I also get to answer questions and provide counseling on a little deeper level.”

He and his team work hard to encourage their customers and co-workers to get vaccinated against the flu. They set the example for the rest of the store by being the first each year to get their flu shots.

“My team shares my passion for preventing the flu,” said Bill. “And if we can help our customers and fellow associates stay well during flu season, we’ve done our jobs.”

Pharmacy Manager Bill Devanney is passionate about helping his customers stay well by getting vaccinated against the flu. Learn about Publix’s free flu shot program for associates in our related story below.

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Protect yourself from the flu … for free!

A flu shot is your best protection from the flu. And, as a Publix associate, you can get it for free from a trained Publix pharmacist. More