Flu shots encouraged for all Rhode Islanders six months of age and older

PROVIDENCE, RI — Governor Dan McKee joined Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos, Director of Health Jerry Larkin, MD, and other leaders on Oct 17th, to get his flu shot and encourage everyone 6 months of age and older to get their flu shots to stay as healthy as possible this fall and winter. 

"Getting a flu shot is your best protection against serious illness from the flu, and it's also the best way to protect the people you love by helping reduce the spread of the flu," said Governor Dan McKee. "For that reason, we have worked to make sure that plenty of flu vaccine is available in every community in Rhode Island. Make your plans to get vaccinated today."

“The flu can be a serious health risk, especially for older adults or for people with weakened immune systems, and any person who gets it can become more susceptible to significant health issues like heart attack or stroke. You can keep yourself and your community safe by making an appointment to get a flu shot at your pharmacy or your doctor’s office,” said Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos. “We encourage all Rhode Islanders to stay safe and prevent the spread of diseases this fall and winter.”

The flu vaccination campaign kickoff event was held at Greenline Apothecary in Providence. Flu shots are available at pharmacies throughout the state, in addition to the offices of many primary care providers and health centers. Hundreds of flu vaccination clinics and COVID-19 vaccination clinics are also being held at schools throughout Rhode Island, many of them in the afternoon and evening. (The afternoon and evening clinics are open to the entire community.) There is no insurance required, and there is no cost for the vaccine at these school clinics. To find a school clinic for a flu or COVID-19 vaccination, visit schoolflu.com [schoolflu.com]. To find additional community vaccination sites, visit www.vaccines.gov [zk8ngbyab.cc.rs6.net]. 

“Flu is just one of the respiratory viruses that can make you and your family sick this fall and winter,” said Director of Health Jerry Larkin, MD. “We also need to protect ourselves from COVID-19 and RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus. Everyone 6 months or older should get a COVID-19 vaccine. You can get both shots at the same time. Talk to your healthcare provider to see if an RSV vaccination is right for you. An RSV vaccine can help?protect adults aged 60 years and older from RSV [zk8ngbyab.cc.rs6.net].?Respiratory viruses are more than just a bad cold—they can keep you out of school or work for a week or more.”

During a typical flu season, the flu results in an estimated 1,000 hospitalizations and many fatalities. During the 2023-2024 flu season, the flu resulted in 1,075 hospitalizations and there were 32 flu-associated deaths. 

RIDOH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend flu shots for everyone six months of age and older. Flu shots are especially important for certain people, including: 

- Anyone 50 and older (CDC recommends the use of specific flu vaccines for adults 65 and older, including higher dose and adjuvanted flu vaccines), 

- Healthcare workers, 

- Anyone who lives in a long-term care facility, 

- Children younger than 5, 

- People who are pregnant, and 

- People with weakened immune systems or chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and asthma. 

After getting a flu shot, some people may experience a slight ache at the injection site or a low-grade fever. That means the vaccine is working – your body is learning to fight the virus. These mild symptoms are much less significant than the actual flu.

In addition to getting vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19, Rhode Islanders can do other things to stay healthy and safe in the coming months:

- Wash your hands often during the day. Use warm water and soap. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand gel. 

- Cough or sneeze into your elbow to prevent other people from getting sick. 

- Stay home if you are sick. 

- Keep surfaces (especially bedside tables, surfaces in the bathroom, and toys for children) clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant.

Additional resources:

- General information about the flu:?https://health.ri.gov/flu [zk8ngbyab.cc.rs6.net] 

- Information about the flu in Spanish:?https://health.ri.gov/gripe [zk8ngbyab.cc.rs6.net]

- People with additional questions, including questions about where to get vaccinated if they do not have insurance, can call the Health Information Line at 401-222-5960 / RI Relay 711.