Flu season has started. Here’s where to get the vaccine
The air is getting nippy. That’s the sign that flu season is here.
There are several strains of influenza, better known as flu, a common virus that is present year-round but rears its head assertively in the fall. The virus causes fevers, coughs and stuffy noses, but can also have more serious symptoms such as brain and heart inflammation for immunocompromised individuals like infants and the elderly.
Medical experts recommend people get the flu vaccine even if they are healthy to help prevent the spread to others that may be more at risk.
Dr. Christina Ateek, a pediatrician at Cook Children’s Health Care System, said the vaccine can also help to mitigate potential severe side effects.
“The goal is that when you do get (the flu), you’re not as miserable from it. And miserable can mean so many things to different people,” Ateek said. “For some, it can even mean going to the hospital and needing oxygen therapy.”
The majority of medical systems in Tarrant County provide free or affordable options to get the flu vaccine, which is reformulated every year to better target flu virus mutations.
Cook Children’s provides the vaccine for children by appointment at any of their neighborhood clinics.
The hospital system also works with Tarrant County Public Health for walk-in appointments. The public health department has eight locations across the county where adults and children over the age of 6 months can get the flu vaccine.
Information on hours and locations can be found here.
Other hospital systems provide walk-in flu vaccine services. Baylor Scott & White Health offers this service at their main hospital in the Medical District.
Texas Health Resources also offers walk-in flu vaccines through their Faith Community Nursing program. The 23-year initiative goes into underserved communities and places pop-up clinics in faith centers. Last year, the program organized 108 clinics and provided nearly 4,300 flu shots.
The program started in September but ramps up in October with several locations served a week.
Since the program started, Texas Health has worked with 120 faith communities, said Caryn Paulos, director of Faith Community Nursing. She said it’s important to meet people in spaces where they feel comfortable, like religious centers, to provide a service that truly matters.
“People traditionally think of hospitals as a place where sick people are, but Texas Health is out in the community, and the flu vaccines are just one way that we can keep people healthy that isn’t in a hospital,” Paulos said.
JPS Health Network and Medical City Fort Worth also administer the vaccine for established hospital patients. Local and national pharmacies also generally administer the flu vaccine, but make sure to contact the pharmacy before going to confirm availability and to schedule an appointment.
If you know other free or affordable flu vaccinations that weren’t mentioned, please contact ismael.belkoura@fortworthreport.org.
The majority of insurance plans and Medicare cover flu shots completely, meaning nothing comes out-of-pocket for the patient.
For people without insurance, the out-of-pocket cost usually ranges from $20 to $130, depending on factors such as age and local administrative fees. Local hospital systems like JPS may have programs available for people experiencing financial hardship.
Ismael M. Belkoura is the health reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at ismael.belkoura@fortworthreport.org.
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