Ascension and the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation will host Free Flu Shot Saturday on Nov. 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Everyone in the community is invited to participate in this free drive-thru flu shot clinic at Saint Louise Oak Creek Clinic (1015 N. Highland Ave., Murfreesboro, TN 37130). Masks and social distancing are 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. 

"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," said Beth Van Gilder, vice president of Physician Services, Ascension Medical Group – Tennessee. "We're proud to partner with BlueCross BlueShield to keep our communities safe during this challenging time for those we are privileged to serve." 

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 increase in-person, indoor interactions.

"We're grateful to Ascension for partnering with the BlueCross Foundation to make Free Flu Shot Saturday happen here in Murfreesboro," said Chelsea Johnson, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee's director of Community Relations and BlueCross Foundation. "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. 

About Ascension Saint Thomas

In Tennessee, Ascension Saint Thomas operates nine hospital campuses in addition to a comprehensive network of affiliated joint ventures, medical practices, clinics and rehabilitation facilities that cover a 68-county area and employ more than 10,000 associates. Across the state, Ascension Saint Thomas provided more than $150 million in community benefit and care of persons living in poverty in fiscal year 2020. Serving Tennessee for 20 years, Ascension is a faith-based health care organization committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. 

About Ascension

Ascension (www.ascension.org) is a faith-based health care organization dedicated to transformation through innovation across the continuum of care. As one of the leading nonprofit and Catholic health systems in the U.S., Ascension is committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. In FY2019, Ascension provided $2 billion in care of persons living in poverty and other community benefit programs. Ascension includes approximately 156,000 associates and 34,000 aligned providers. The national health system operates more than 2,600 sites of care – including 150 hospitals and more than 50 senior living facilities – in 20 states and the District of Columbia, while providing a variety of services including physician practice management, venture capital investing, investment management, biomedical engineering, facilities management, clinical care management, information services, risk management, and contracting through Ascension's own group purchasing organization.  

About BlueCross

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is a taxpaying, not-for-profit health plan serving more than 3.5 million members in Tennessee and around the country. The Chattanooga-based company was founded in 1945 and is celebrating its 75th anniversary of bringing peace of mind to its members and local communities.

About BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation Inc.

The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation, Inc., was established in December 2003 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation organized to promote the philanthropic mission of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. The foundation provides funding for the BlueCross Healthy Place program, which creates active, healthy spaces across Tennessee.

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Inc., and BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation, Inc., are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information, visit the company's news center at BCBSTnews.com.