BCBSRI to Offer Free Seasonal Flu Shots to Uninsured in Providence
Publicado el 2009-10-01 16:33:39 [0 comentarios]
Michelle Cortes-Harkins, BSW, MSW
Interim Executive Director
BCBSRI TO OFFER FREE SEASONAL FLU SHOTS TO UNINSURED IN PROVIDENCE
ANNUAL FLU VACCINATION PROGRAM TO BEGIN IN OCTOBER_
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (September 28, 2009) - Beginning October 13, Blue
Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) will sponsor free flu
clinics for Providence-area residents who lack health insurance. The
clinics will be held at homeless shelters and other charitable
organizations throughout the city. Only the seasonal flu vaccinations
will be available, not H1N1 (swine) flu vaccinations.
"We are absolutely committed to helping protect our fellow Rhode
Islanders this flu season," said James E. Purcell, BCBSRI president
and CEO. "We are proud to partner with local organizations such as the
Genesis Center, Crossroads, and Amos House to ensure that flu shots
are available to those who need it, regardless of their ability to
pay. It's simply the right thing to do."
To provide the flu shots, BCBSRI is partnering with The Health &
Wellness Institute, the Wellness Company, and with community service
organizations that minister to a high number of people living in
poverty, who are likely to be uninsured.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends flu
shots for children ages 6 months to 19 years, pregnant women, people
age 50 and over, people of any age with a chronic illness, people who
live in nursing homes or long-term care facilities, healthcare
workers, and caregivers of children.
Flu vaccinations are not recommended for children younger than
six-months old, people who are severely allergic to chicken eggs, and
those who have experienced a severe reaction to a past influenza
vaccination.
The clinics will begin on October 13 and will run through November
24.
_DATES AND LOCATIONS _
10/13 Genesis Center, 620 Potters Avenue, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30
p.m.
10/15 Crossroads, 160 Broad Street, 10 a.m. to noon
10/19 International Institute, 645 Elmwood Ave., 10 a.m. to
noon
10/23 Dorcas Place, 220 Elmwood Ave., 10 a.m. to noon
10/28 Poverello Center, 668 Hartford Ave., 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
10/29 Progreso Latino, 626 Broad St., 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
10/29 Amos House, 415 Friendship St., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
11/5 Channel One, 361 Cowden St., 10 a.m. to noon
11/5 CHisPA, 421 Elmwood Ave., 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
11/9 Carroll Tower, 243 Smith St., 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
11/9 Dexter Manor, 100 Broad St., 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
11/9 Dominica Manor, 100 Atwells Ave., 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
11/11 St. Edward Food and Wellness Center, 1001 Branch Ave,
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
11/12 Map Behavioral, 324 Elmwood Ave., 3:30 p.m. to 5:30
p.m.
11/13 Camp Street Ministries, 190 Camp St., 11 a.m. to 1
p.m.
11/18 Nickerson Community Center, 133 Delaine St, 10 a.m. to
noon
11/18 Youth Pride Pantry, 171 Chestnut St., 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
11/19 St. Martin de Porres Center, 160 Cranston St., 10
a.m. to noon
11/24 Project Homeless Connect, Beneficent Church Round Top
Center, 9 to 11 a.m.
Flu shots are also free for BCBSRI members; members can visit the
Ocean State Adult Immunization Coalition Web site (osaicri.org) for a
listing of all flu clinics. To learn more and find comprehensive
information about flu prevention and treatment, visit "Flu News" on
BCBSRI.com.
_Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island is the state's leading
health insurer and covers more than 600,000 members. Blue Cross &
Blue Shield of Rhode Island is an independent licensee of the Blue
Cross and Blue Shield Association. _
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Categorias: PRESS RELEASES / Comunicados de Prensa