Free flu shot events in Memphis, Germantown
Free flu shots will be available at drive-thru clinics in Memphis and Germantown this month, both hosted by Baptist Memorial Health Care and the Bluecross Blueshield of Tennessee Foundation.
On Nov. 7, free flu shots will be available at Baptist Medical Group-humphreys Family Practice Clinic at 6685 Poplar Ave., Suite 120, in Germantown. On Nov. 14, they will be available at Baptist Medical Group-memphis Primary Care Associates at 1520 Union Ave. in Memphis. Both events will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Masks and social distancing are required, according to a news release. Those age 12 or older are encouraged to wear short sleeves or sleeves easy to roll up, while children under 12 are encouraged to wear shorts or short pants, the release said.
This year’s flu season comes amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and physicians and health experts are asking everyone 6 months and older to get a flu shot due to overlapping symptoms between the two diseases, USA TODAY reported in October.
“Getting a flu vaccine is important every year, but this year it is especially crucial,” said Stephen Threlkeld, medical director of Infectious Diseases for Baptist Memorial Health Care, in a statement. “It can protect some people from the flu entirely and reduce the severity of the flu in others. That’s important because the flu can lead to more serious medical conditions and even death, especially among seniors.”
The flu vaccine can’t give you the flu or increase your risk of catching COVID-19, but flu-like symptoms are possible despite getting the vaccine, the Mayo Clinic says. It adds that flu vaccination can reduce symptoms that may be confused with COVID-19 symptoms and help reduce hospitalizations amid the pandemic.
“We’re grateful to Baptist Memorial Health Care for partnering with the Bluecross Foundation to make Free Flu Shot Saturdays happen here in Memphis,” said Chelsea Johnson, Bluecross Blueshield of Tennessee’s director of Community Relations and Bluecross Foundation, in a statement. “Getting the flu shot is a safe, easy way to help keep all families healthy, and we wanted to make it even easier for our neighbors to get vaccinated.”