St. Anthony Community Hospital offers flu clinic Nov. 14

All adults eligible to receive free flu shots Warwick - St. Anthony Community Hospital will provide free flu shots for any adult, 18 years and older, on Wednesday, Nov. 14, from 2:30 to 6 p.m., No appointment is necessary and there is no fee. “The flu vaccine is plentiful this year,” said Sandra Stricoff, the hospital’s director infection control-employee healh. “We invite everyone to our free clinic but we also encourage others to go to their own health practitioner for this vital protection.” In addition to arranging for the free flu vaccine program on Nov. 14, she also organized a mini-health fair that same day to showcase a few of the state-of-the-art services offered at the hospital. While people are waiting for their flu shots, health practitioners will be on hand to offer information on other health topics including sleep apnea, pulmonary function testing, diagnostic cardiology services, healthy eating and diabetes education among others. Every year in the United States, on average, five to 20 per cent of the population suffers from the flu. And more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from its complications. Some people, such as older people, young children, and those with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu illnesses and about 36,000 people die from flu each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “the flu” is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. For more information visit www.bschs.org.