You. Flu. And what to do.
At BCBSRI, we want to help protect you and your family during flu season. That’s why we’re offering free flu vaccinations for all BCBSRI members. This includes getting a flu shot or receiving a nasal spray. There is no copay or coinsurance if you are vaccinated at a doctor’s office or flu vaccination clinic. We are also offering free flu shot clinics for Rhode Islanders who lack health insurance or whose insurance does not cover flu vaccinations.
A seasonal flu vaccination is recommended for everyone over the age of six months. This is a new recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Adults only need to receive one vaccination this year, as the seasonal flu vaccine also protects against H1N1 (swine) flu. Children aged eight and younger may need two doses of the vaccine, so please check with your child’s pediatrician.
3 more ways to prevent the flu
Getting a flu shot is the best way to reduce your risk of getting the flu. You can also help reduce your risk of getting (or spreading) the flu by taking these simple measures:
- Wash your hands thoroughly and often throughout the day with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially before preparing food, after blowing your nose, or if you're caring for a sick person.
- Cover your mouth and nose with the crook of your elbow or a tissue when coughing or sneezing—not with your hands.
- Stay home! Going to work or school when you are ill puts others at risk for the flu and, in turn, they can pass it on to even more people. The Rhode Island Department of Health recommends that you stay home until you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
For more tips, check out Preventing the Flu: Good Health Habits Can Help Stop Germs, a fact sheet from the CDC.
Flu FAQs
Have questions about the flu or flu vaccination? These frequently asked questions (and answers) offer information you need to stay healthy.
Where to find more information
Flu.gov
Rhode Island Department of Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
 Back
to Previous Page
|
