Visiting Nurse Services provides Wellness Clinics at 27 public sites in Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth, Prudence Island, Tiverton, Bristol, Barrington, and Warren. Check our Calendar for locations, days and times.

Our nurses do blood pressure screenings along with vital signs and periodic cholesterol and glucose screenings. Our nurses can also relay general health information, review medications, and answer health-related questions.

The Wellness Room at our VNS Newport office, located at 21 Chapel Street, is staffed with a registered nurse on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons, 2:30 to 4 pm, and on the first, second and third Tuesday morning of the month, 10 am to 12 noon. Blood pressure screenings, weight checks, medication reviews, and fall prevention education are offered free of charge. Glucose and cholesterol screenings are available at no cost on the first Monday and Tuesday of each month. Pneumonia immunizations are available and are billed through health insurance. Stop by during the Wellness Room’s open hours - no appointment is necessary. For information, call 849-2101.

SEASONAL FLU CLINICS

We also hold Seasonal Flu and Pneumonia Clinics in the fall and winter in the communities of Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth (including Prudence Island), Tiverton, Bristol, Barrington, Warren, and Jamestown. Click here to view the dates of our Seasonal Flu and Pneumonia Clinics. Starting in early September, you can find a Seasonal Flu Clinic site near you, by entering your zip code in the box below. Volunteers are always welcome to assist with our Seasonal Flu Clinics.

If you are looking for information on the H1N1 Swine flu, visit the RI DoH Volunteers are always welcome for the Flu Clinics.

Please check this site in early September to locate a Flu Clinic site near you.

For a complete list of our public clinics, enter your zip code into the box below.

Find a VNS Flu Clinic Enter Your Zip

FLU FACTS

Epidemics of influenza, commonly called flu, typically occur during the winter months (December through March) and are responsible for approximately 36,000 deaths a year in the United States. The influenza viruses cause disease in all age groups. Rates of infection are highest among children, but rates of serious illness and death are highest among persons aged 65+ and those with medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, or asthma. The primary method for preventing influenza and is severe complications is the influenza vaccination.

Flu illness can begin as early as Thanksgiving but most often it occurs in January or February. Once the flu shot is received, the body needs two weeks to build the necessary antibodies to protect against the flu. The flu vaccine cannot cause flu disease. It contains inactivated or “dead” virus that creates antibodies but not illness. Some people complain of a sore arm at the injection site or some fatigue and a low grade fever for a day or two.

Flu viruses are spread from person to person and flu symptoms are fever, muscle aches, headache, severe fatigue, non productive cough, sore throat. Extreme sinus congestion as with a cold (rhinovirus) or vomiting and diarrhea with the ”stomach flu” (enterovirus) are not usually associated with flu (influenza). Adults having the highest risk for complications with the flu are persons 65 and over, persons 50 and over who have certain chronic illnesses or care for persons over 65, pregnant women, persons of a any age with serious chronic disease, and health care works (as they can transmit flu to their high risk patients).

PNEUMONIA CLINICS

Pneumonia vaccine is available at some flu clinics. Please call Deb Silvia 401-682-2100 x 470 to get more information.

Pneumonia vaccine is recommended for persons 65+ who have not been previously immunized for pneumonia. Some doctors recommend pneumonia immunization for their senior and chronically ill patients every five years. The CDC also recommends pneumonia immunizations for any adult aged 19 through 64 who is a smoker or has asthma. If you are healthy, one vaccination may be all you need. If your first pneumonia shot is received prior to your reaching 65, it is recommended that a second shot be given after turning 65, if at least five years has passed since the first shot. Pneumonia vaccine and flu vaccine may be given at the same time.