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Here’s what to know about the flu and COVID-19 vaccination clinics opening in Boston
Some Boston-area hospitals are struggling to meet the demands of this winter's flu surge.
Following a spike in flu cases and hospitalizations in Massachusetts, the City of Boston is opening a series of flu and COVID-19 vaccination clinics. Vaccinations are free and available to anyone 6 months or older, no appointment necessary.
According to a post on Instagram from Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), flu cases increased 114% during the week of Dec. 14, with the rate being three times higher among children. Adults over 65 and children under 2 years old are at higher risk for complications from infection, according to the commission. Two children under 2 years old have died of the flu in Boston this season, and four children have died of the illness statewide.
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Some Boston-area hospitals are struggling to meet the demands of this surge in hospitalizations.
Previously:
“The hospital is already at capacity, and we are very much stretched to our limits,” Dr. Erin Beaumont, chair of the emergency department at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, told WBUR. ”Unfortunately, I think we’re probably just at the tip of the iceberg when we’re talking about this surge.”
This uptick is occurring a month earlier than last season, when Boston cases did not reach these numbers until mid- to late-January. According to Boston.gov, BPHC has already hosted 27 free vaccine clinics across 15 neighborhoods, vaccinating more than 2,500 individuals. Despite this, only 34% of Massachusetts residents have been vaccinated this season.
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Vaccines are highly effective at lowering the risk of serious illness and hospitalizations from the flu, especially in children, according to the CDC. The city of Boston held its first of this series of free vaccine clinics Wednesday at City Hall. There are three more vaccine clinics this month, in Brighton, Hyde Park, and Dorchester:
- 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, Josephine A. Fiorentino Community Center, 123 Antwerp St., Brighton
- 3-7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, BCYF Hyde Park Community Center, 1179 River St., Hyde Park
- 3-7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, BCYF Perkins Community Center, 155 Talbot Ave., Dorchester
Clinic staff will ask for insurance and identification cards, but insurance and identification are not required. Pre-registration is also available. Residents with any questions are encouraged to contact the Mayor’s Health Line for free, confidential, multilingual assistance. The Mayor’s Health Line helps all residents regardless of immigration status.
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