(MURFREESBORO) Free flu shots will be given in a drive-through process at the Saint Louise Oak Creek Clinic (10015 N. Highland Ave.) It will be Saturday morning, November 14, 2020, from 10:00AM to 2:00PM. The free flu shots are made possible by Ascension and the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation.

The drive-through environment makes it safer for everyone, but masks and social distancing are still required. Adults and older children are encouraged to wear short sleeves or sleeves that are easy to roll up. Younger children are encouraged to wear short pants.

Ascension's Vice President of Physician Services Beth Van Gilder said, "To help prevent and reduce the spread of disease, Ascension Saint Thomas encourages individuals, families and communities across the nation to get their appropriate vaccinations, including their annual influenza vaccine."

Since this year’s flu season will overlap with the COVID-19 pandemic, Ascension and BlueCross medical experts encourage everyone to get a flu shot, especially ahead of colder weather and holidays, which are likely to with increase in-person and indoor interactions.

BlueCross BlueShield's Chelsea Johnson notes, “We’re grateful to Ascension for partnering with the BlueCross Foundation to make Free Flu Shot Saturday happen here in Murfreesboro. 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.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), anyone can get the flu (even healthy people), and serious problems related to the flu can happen at any age; but some people are at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications if they get sick. This includes people 65 years and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions (such as diabetes, asthma or heart disease), pregnant women, and young children.

The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months of age or older get a flu vaccine every year. Over the past 50 years, hundreds of millions of Americans have safely received flu vaccines, and it prevents millions of illnesses each year. Murfreesboro residents can find details about Free Flu Shot Saturday at www.bettertennessee.com/events.