Somerville Out of Flu Vaccinations

[courtney o'keefe]

The Somerville Health Department has cancelled all flu vaccinations for the remainder of the 2012-2013 winter season, stating, "The City of Somerville's remaining flu clinics for Winter 2012-13 have been cancelled. The City received approximately 700 doses for the season, and administered the final dose of our supply on January 8th. Residents seeking flu shots at this time are advised to contact your primary care physician, or your local pharmacy."

There is a CVS and Rite Aid in Davis, as well as, a CVS in Magoun should anyone need a shot. Please feel free to list other locations in the comments section!

Comments

[ron_newman]

The other chain pharmacies I know of in Somerville are

CVS in Porter Square (just over the line in Cambridge)
Walgreens: on Beacon St near Inman Square, and on Broadway in Winter Hill
Rite Aid: on Somerville Ave at Park Street; on Broadway in Winter Hill; in Twin City Plaza
Target on Somerville Ave east of Union Square
Stop & Shop on McGrath Highway in East Somerville

but I have no idea which ones still have flu vaccine. Call before making a trip to any of these.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Does anyone know of other local cities that offer free flu vaccines? I'm all set, but I know people without insurance or money. Thanks.

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

Wow, 700 doses seems low to me for a city the size of Somerville. Others have thoughts?

[ron_newman]

Boston has added a whole bunch of free flu clinics over this weekend and beyond. I don't know if you have to prove Boston residency.

[axedmoon.livejournal.com]

That does seem really low. Some CVS pharmacies have TARGET sales of over 700 doses.
Source: ex employee here. :)

[ayelle.livejournal.com]

That's unfortunate. According to the CDC/news stuff I was reading yesterday, there is no shortage of flu vaccines generally -- there are enough for everybody -- so if you can't get one at the first place you try, definitely try somewhere else. But it would suck if this means people who could have gotten a free one now have to pay. I hope that doesn't end up being the case. In any case people will be inconvenienced and thus may give up.

[koloratur.livejournal.com]

FWIW, I believe the cost of the flu vaccine at the Porter CVS was $31. Not free, of course, but I think most pharmacies offer them for a similar price.

[hahathor.livejournal.com]

Boy, now I'm really glad I took advantage of the free vaccines they were offering at my polling place. Yes, democracy is its own reward (especially when everything and everyone I voted for won) but health is a nice added benefit.

[real-green-tea.livejournal.com]

Lord Google lists these locations for Boston (http://www.bphc.org/programs/infectiousdisease/infectiousdiseasesatoz/influenza/fluvaccinefinder/Pages/Home.aspx#/?i=1)including many free clinics this upcoming Saturday.

For those that don't know Boston has declared a state of emergency due to the 700 reported flu cases and 4 deaths (all in elderly people so far) in the city, and apparently Menino is seeing about getting some more free vaccine out there.

The most recent testing for strains of flu say that thus far, the vast proportion of cases, especially among the strains that make people the most sick (ie most dangerous and keep most people out of work the longest), are actually those covered by the vaccine.

Flu shots are cheap*, typically around twenty bucks, and should be available through both your doctor and local pharmacy, as there is plenty of vaccine to go around. These are probably the fastest and most convenient ways to get protected against the flu. (*By "cheap" I mean, less expensive than most copays to the emergency room, considerably less expensive than uninsured emergency visits, hospitalization, or taking a week plus off work, or a course of antivirals... all of which can cost hundreds of dollars to a flu-infected individual).

[courtney o'keefe (from livejournal.com)]

The Curtatone Administration has requested more doses as of this morning.

[ron_newman]

Somerville Scout says this:

Update from Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone:

Earlier this afternoon, we received word from our partners at the Cambridge Health Alliance – which has several offices and clinics in the City of Somerville – extending an offer to donate 100 doses of Flulaval, an influenza vaccine for adults ages 18 and older. The additional 100 doses will be available at flu clinics, as supplies last, on Thursday evenings – beginning today – from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Somerville Health Department, 50 Evergreen Ave. Residents with questions about the vaccination, supply, or other general information should contact the Public Health Nurse Manager, Maureen Monagle, at 617-625-6600 ext. 4320.

[she-of-emeralds.livejournal.com]

Sheesh. I got my flu shot about a month ago at the Porter Square CVS. Dunno if they still have any, though.

[courtney o'keefe (from livejournal.com)]

Saw that the Magoun Square CVS may be out of flu shots :(

[jducoeur]

Still had them as of late last week (I got mine on Thursday). Only dispensed by the pharmacy, though -- the MinuteClinic was thoroughly out of them -- and that isn't covered by some insurance (eg, my BCBS plan), so you may have to pay the $31. More than worth it to me, but it's more of an issue for some folks...