CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – With the looming “twindemic” of COVID-19 with flu season, state health officials are urging everyone to get a flu shot as soon as possible.

To make that easier, drive-up free flu shot clinics are being held in every county on Thursday, Nov. 19.

“We want to make every effort to prevent the ‘twindemic’ of both COVID-19 and influenza in Tennessee, in order for our residents to stay healthy and for our hospitals not to become
overwhelmed,” said Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey.

“Vaccination is still the best protection we have against this serious and potentially deadly illness, and I strongly encourage everyone to get a flu shot this year, even if you normally don’t get one.”

In Clarksville, the COVID-19 testing site at Civitan Park will be converted that day to a drive-thru free flu clinic, said Health Director Joey Smith.

“We won’t have COVID testing going on. We’ll be offering free flu shots and we’ll be doing so from 9 in the morning until 2 in the afternoon,” Smith said.

No appointments are needed.

TDH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend a yearly flu vaccine for everyone ages 6 months and older. It’s especially important for pregnant women to get flu
shots to protect themselves and their unborn children, as flu is more likely to cause severe illness in pregnant women.

“Fewer than half of all Tennesseans receive a flu vaccine each year,” said Tennessee Vaccine Preventable Diseases and Immunization Program Director Michelle Fiscus. “The flu vaccine reduces the chance of hospitalization or death from flu by 40 to 60 percent.

“If everyone who can get a flu vaccine would get one, we could significantly reduce flu-related sickness, hospitalizations and deaths.”

Most people with the flu will experience symptoms such as fever, cough, congestion and body aches, and will recover on their own after about a week. However, infants, the elderly and people with certain medical conditions are at highest risk of severe complications from the flu.

Learn more about preventing seasonal flu at www.cdc.gov/flu/consumer/index.html.