The Rhode Island Department of Health will hold a community flu shot clinic on Saturday, March 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Barrington Public Library. 

Barrington Town Manager Jim Cunha filed a request for the flu shot clinic with the department of health on Monday, March 2, and learned on Thursday that the agency had approved the clinic. The flu shot clinic is open to all people, ages 3 and older.

According to information provided by the Rhode Island Department of Health, getting a flu shot will "help keep people out of the hospital and allow room, if needed, to treat patients sickened by the coronavirus or COVID-19."

Officials are reminding people that the flu vaccine will not help reduce someone's risk of COVID-19, but will reduce a person's risk of serious complications from the flu. 

"During flu season and a time when we are seeing a new respiratory illness—COVID-19—it is important to preserve our healthcare system to be able to care for patients most in need," stated a release from the RI Department of Health. "Getting a flu shot can help keep you out of emergency care facilities."

Officials are also reminding people that there are many respiratory illnesses circulating in Rhode Island currently, such as the flu and the common cold. 

"Having respiratory symptoms does not mean that you have COVID-19," stated the release.

Health department officials said people are at a higher risk for COVID-19 if "they have symptoms of COVID-19 (cough, fever, shortness of breath) AND if have had direct, face-to-face contact with a confirmed positive case of COVID-19; they have traveled to country with community transmission, such as China, Italy,

South Korea, Iran, and Japan."