May 16, 2013 — vol. 48, no 41
This Sat: Free flu shots at Hub health centers
This is pretty creepy, huh? ¡Gracias, Organización Panamericana de la Salud!
Aiming to get Bostonians, especially young ones, up to date on their shots and protected against disease with winter fast approaching, Mayor Thomas M. Menino and a number of city public health officials announced this afternoon that Saturday, Dec. 6, will be “Child Influenza Education and Vaccination Day” here in the Hub.
"I want to strongly encourage every parent to get their child vaccinated against the flu this year," Menino said during a visit to Uphams Corner Health Center in Dorchester. "Children are often the first group to contract the flu in their communities, and by making sure they're vaccinated, we can prevent others from becoming ill."
The health centers are going to be opening their doors to give out the free vaccinations from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, so it may be in your best interest to show up early.
Here's the full press release of the announcement, and a list of participating health centers. (For those of you without Adobe Reader, the list is reproduced at the bottom of the post.)
The Boston Public Health Commission's Web site has the details, as well as video of the announcement, a flu podcast (which I, for one, am shocked I can't find on iTunes) and more information about the contagious illness caused by the influenza virus than you likely want. (Of course, so do we.)
The impetus behind the additional availability? The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this year — for the first time in its history — recommended that all children between the ages of 6 months and 18 years get a flu vaccine shot, so you may want to take advantage of the freebie before flu season really hits (the number of cases typically increases in late December/early January, according to the BPHC).
Or, you and your loved ones — and everyone you come into contact with — may prefer looking like my man up at the top of this post. Your call, really.
DD
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Here's where you can get your flu shots this Saturday:
Bowdoin Street Community Health Center
Codman Square Community Health Center
Dimock Community Health Center
Dorchester House Multi-Service Center
East Boston Neighborhood Health Center
Fenway Community Health Center (Adults Only)
Geiger Gibson Community Health Center
Greater Roslindale Medical and Dental Center
Joseph M. Smith Community Health Center
Martha Eliot Health Center
Mattapan Community Center
Neponset Health Center
South Boston Community Health Center
Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center
Uphams Corner Health Center
Whittier Street Health Center
