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
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
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
Raw Video: 19 Dead in Qatar Shopping Mall Fire
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony
Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
