City Colleges of Chicago is partnering with the Chicago Department of Public Health to provide flu vaccinations this fall.
The city’s public health department has begun hosting over 50 community flu clinics where Chicago residents can get their annual flu shot at no cost regardless of their immigration status.
For those who have insurance, they’re asked to bring a copy of their insurance card. Walk-ins are welcome.
Upcoming clinics on the West Side are will be held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 19 at La Follette Park, 1333 N. Laramie Ave; Oct. 27 at Riis Park, 6100 W. Fullerton; and Nov. 2 at Columbus Park, 5701 W. Jackson.
For a list of all dates and locations, visit chicago.gov/flu.
Experts say getting vaccinated for influenza is especially important this fall to prevent a convergence of flu and COVID-19.
Less than half of Americans get the shot in a typical year, so this is the year experts say everyone should strive to get vaccinated.
During the 2018-19 flu season, flu vaccination was estimated to prevent 4.4 million flu illnesses, 58,000 flu hospitalizations and 3,500 deaths, writes Libby Richards, an associate professor of nursing at Purdue University.
Richards notes that early data from the 2019-20 flu season estimates there were 39 million to 56 million flu illnesses, 18 million to 26 million flu-related medical visits, 410,000 to 740,000 hospitalizations and up to 62,000 deaths.
The CDC recommends everyone (with few exceptions) 6 months of age or older get an annual flu vaccine, Richards writes.
If you can’t make it to one of the citywide site, you can find another flu shot provider near you by clicking here.