Influenza (Flu)

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Flu Clinic Locations

There are many places to get a flu vaccine in and around Newton including your healthcare provider, pharmacies, and urgent care clinics. Below is a list of those locations, however you must confirm the information and appointment for any site.

Flu shot locations around Newton

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If you were vaccinated at an HHS clinic and need documentation, please call 617-796-1420 or email health@newtonma.gov.

Flu Vaccine Recommendations

The information below is provided to help you decide which vaccine to get. Please note that this information is for educational purposes only – if you have any questions about which vaccine is best for you, you should ask your health care provider.

Learn more about the CDC recommendations here.

For a complete list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) click here.

What are the changes to the 2024-25 season influenza vaccine formula?

All flu vaccines for the 2024-45 influenza season will be trivalent vaccines, which cover the 3 most common strains of influenza. From 2013-2023, protection against a fourth strain of influenza was added to cover another circulating strain (B/Yamagata lineage). Since this strain has not been detected since March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Federal Drug Administration (FDA) announced flu vaccines for the 2024-25 flu season no longer need to cover this strain.

When should I get vaccinated?

September and October are generally good times to be vaccinated. Flu activity often begins to increase in October and November and peaks between December and February. Adults, especially those older than 65, should not get vaccinated early (in July or August) because protection in this group may decrease over time. Children can get vaccinated as soon as vaccine becomes available. You should not wait for flu activity to be rising or high in your community to get a flu vaccine. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body that protect against flu.

What is the “senior vaccine”, and should I get it if I am 65 or older?

In 2022, the CDC adopted the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation to preferentially recommend the use of specific flu vaccines for adults 65 years and older, including higher dose and adjuvanted flu vaccines. The preference applies to Fluzone High-Dose, Flublok and Fluad flu vaccines. This recommendation was based on a review of available studies which suggests that, in this age group, these vaccines are potentially more effective than standard dose unadjuvanted flu vaccines.

There are two different flu vaccines for adults 65 and older. Both are designed to give older adults a better immune response to protect against the flu. One type is a high-dose vaccine that contains four times the amount of antigen (active ingredient) as the regular-dose flu shot. The second type contains a standard dose with an adjuvant which helps enhance the immune system’s response.

Massachusetts Immunization Information System (MIIS)

Massachusetts law (M.G.L. c. 111, Section 24M) requires providers to report immunization information to a computerized immunization registry known as the Massachusetts Immunization Information System (MIIS). The MIIS stores immunization records for you and your healthcare provider and can help prevent outbreaks of disease like measles and the flu. All information in the MIIS is kept secure and confidential. The MIIS allows information to be shared with health care providers, school nurses, local boards of health, and state agencies concerned with immunization. You have the right to object to the sharing of your immunization information across providers in the MIIS. For more information, please ask your healthcare provider, visit the MIIS website at www.mass.gov/dph/miis or contact the Massachusetts Immunization Program directly at 617-983-6800 or 888-658-2850.

General

Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory disease that can lead to serious complications, hospitalization, or even death. Anyone can get the flu, and getting a flu vaccine is the single best way to protect yourself and your family. Even healthy people can get very sick from the flu and spread it to friends and loved ones. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a flu vaccine every year for everyone over the age of 6 months.
While flu activity usually peaks in January or February, the flu itself is unpredictable. The flu vaccine, however, is safe, effective, and widely available. Most people are protected from the three strains of flu in the vaccine within two weeks of vaccination.
There are many places to get a flu vaccine including your primary health care provider, local pharmacies, or a City of Newton Flu Clinic.