Ochsner St. Anne offers flu shots, free screenings

Ochsner St. Anne General Hospital in Raceland will offer seasonal flu vaccinations and free health screenings at a Fall Health Fair, which will be held Saturday Oct. 9 from 8 a.m. – noon.

The event will be open to anyone and the first 200 participants 18 or older will get a free seasonal flu shot.

“Even though we are not facing a pandemic such as the H1N1 flu outbreak of last year, it is as important as ever that people receive the seasonal flu vaccine,” Ochsner St. Anne Family Medicine Specialist Dr. Jack Heidenreich said.

The specialist emphasized that preventative measures like washing our hands frequently with soap and/or alcohol-based sanitizer, as well as coughing or sneezing into a tissue help stop the spread of flu each year.

But he said getting the shot is the best and most sure-fire way to slow the sickness’ spread.

“It is recommended that everyone over six months of age receive a seasonal flu vaccine this year,” Heidenreich said.

In addition to the flu shots, there will be free health screenings for participants 18 and older.

Included in that package are the vaccination, as well as a total cholesterol check, an HDL check, blood pressure examination, a glucose check, as well as a prostate cancer blood test for men more than 40 years of age.