UPDATED: Free vaccine shots on Sunday, December 9

Don’t put off getting your flu shots any longer

Flu virus - something you really should be scared of

By Will Collette

UPDATE: The RI Health Dept. now considers the flu to be widespread in RI, with more than 30 people hospitalized with flu-like symptoms since Oct. 1.

 According to the Associated Press, flu season is coming to Rhode Island early. RI Health Department Director Michael Fine says they are already seeing more flulike illnesses than they saw in all of last year.

You can get your flu shot for free on Sunday at the Charlestown Community/Senior Center in Ninigret Park from 10 AM to 1 PM. Though there is no charge for the shot, you should bring your insurance or Medicare card with you (if you have one).

Everyone over the age of six months should be vaccinated, but especially the elderly and people with chronic illnesses.

You can also get free pneumonia shots and the combo vaccine for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough). There were several outbreaks of whooping cough in Rhode Island, leading to mass immunizations to stem the outbreaks.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 50,000 Americans died from flu between 1976 and 2007.

For more information, contact the Rhode Island Department of Health at 401-222-5960 / RI Relay 711; www.health.ri.gov.