You don't have to be a senior to get a free flu shot at some North Shore senior centers this year.

The wide availability of the vaccine has prompted health officials in Beverly and Ipswich to lower the age of eligibility to 50, lower than the more standard cutoff age of 60 or 65.

"Thankfully there's no shortage, as there has been in some years," Ipswich health agent Colleen Fermon said.

Public health nurse Pat Zingariello said Beverly lowered its eligibility from 65 to 50 for today's clinic to comply with recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which advises people 50 and over to get flu shots.

"If we're going to have this big clinic, we want to try to get as many people in as we can," Zingariello said.

The flu shot clinics are offered by local public health departments every year around this time to protect the most vulnerable people from getting the flu.

That vulnerable population includes adults 50 and over, as well as pregnant women and people of any age with chronic medical conditions and weakened immune systems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Children ages 6 months to 5 years are also vulnerable and should get a shot from their pediatrician.

The state Department of Public Heath has given out more than 705,000 doses of the flu vaccine to senior centers, nursing homes and pediatricians, spokeswoman Donna Rheaume said.

"There's plenty of vaccine in the state," she said.

The state-issued vaccines are given out at no charge. There are also dozens of flu shot clinics on the North Shore at locations like Stop & Shop, Costco and CVS. Those shots cost around $30.

While health officials emphasize the protection of younger and older people, Rheaume said everyone should be immunized. In fact, in Boxford you only have to be 18 to qualify for the free flu clinic at Town Hall.

"We encourage everyone to get a flu shot," Rheaume said.

Free flu clinics

Today

Beverly Senior Center, 9 a.m. to noon, residents 50 and over

Monday

Ipswich Council on Aging, 9 to 11 a.m., residents 50 and over

Wednesday

Salem Council on Aging, 9 a.m. to noon, residents 65 and over

Friday

Danvers Senior Center, 1 to 4 p.m., residents 60 and over

Tuesday, Nov. 13

Peabody, Torigian Life Center, 9 to 11 a.m., residents 60 and over

Salem Housing Authority, 9 a.m. to noon, residents 65 and over

Wednesday, Nov. 14

Boxford Town Hall, 1 to 4 p.m., residents 18 and over

Thursday, Nov. 15

Salem, Pioneer Terrace, 8 to 11 a.m., residents 65 and over

Ipswich, Caroline Avenue housing, 1 to 3 p.m., residents 50 and over

Friday, Nov. 16

Danvers Senior Center, 1 to 4 p.m., residents 60 and over

Monday, Nov. 26

Ipswich Town Hall, 3 to 5 p.m., residents 50 and over