Anyone interested in getting a flu shot can do so for free starting Monday when the city of Long Beach will host its first of several vaccination clinics scheduled through October.
Health officials highly recommend that anyone six months and older get the flu vaccine every year to be safe from outbreaks. While most people may experience fevers, chills, aches, pains and coughing, the flu can cause serious complications for those aged 60 and older, pregnant women, caregivers of seniors or infants, or those with an underlying chronic medical condition or weak immune systems.
“Keeping yourself healthy by getting the flu vaccine makes you less susceptible to catching other respiratory viral illnesses such as COVID-19,” health officials said in a statement. “Greater community coverage through the vaccine will also help alleviate potential burdens on the health care system.”
Long Beach Health Department officials said they’re hosting the free clinics across the city in hopes of getting vaccines to people who don’t have insurance or a health care provider that gives them access to flu shots.
The first clinic is Monday, Oct. 3 at El Dorado Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. No appointment will be necessary.
The rest of the schedule is as follows:
- McBride Park (1550 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.) on Tuesday, Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Ramona Park (3301 E. 65th St.) on Monday, Oct. 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- MacArthur Park (1321 E. Anaheim St.) on Tuesday, Oct. 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Long Beach Senior Center (1150 E. 4th St.) on Thursday, Oct. 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Admiral Kidd Park (2125 Santa Fe Ave.) on Wednesday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Silverado Park (1545 W. 31st St.) on Thursday, Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Main Health Facility (2525 Grand Ave.) on Thursday, Oct. 20, from 4 to 8 p.m. Appointments for this specific clinic can be made through the MyTurn website. Updated bivalent COVID-19 boosters will also be offered.
- Houghton Park (6301 Myrtle Ave.) on Thursday, Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Bixby Park (130 Cherry Ave.) on Tuesday, Nov. 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
In addition, free flu vaccines will be offered, while supplies last, at all city-run COVID-19 vaccine sites starting Monday, Oct. 10. Appointments for both COVID-19 and flu vaccines, which may be safely taken at the same time, will be available on MyTurn.
Health officials also recommend that people practice healthy habits such as staying home from work or school if sick and washing hands with soap frequently to reduce the transmission of the flu.
The flu vaccine clinics are subject to change due to vaccine availability and other factors, according to the city. For the latest updates on clinics, click here.
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