Every fall, the Chicago Department of Public Health hosts free flu shot clinics all over the city. This year is no exception, but they seem to be doing it in secret. Unlike previous years, there seem to be no press releases and not even a schedule on the city’s web site.
However, this web site shows the locations of the clinics. Click on one of the blue spikes and it will tell you exactly when and where the clinic is being held. There are locations operating on Saturday and Sunday, just click around until you find one. If it is hard to click, zoom in on the map a bit.
Bring an ID that shows you live in Chicago. If you are on Medicare, bring your card. No insurance is required. You can go to any location, even if it is in a different ward.
I got my flu shot. I got there about noon. There was no line whatsoever. I hear that there may be a line when they first open. They are using the quadrivalent flu vaccine (the good stuff).
If you are scared of needles, let me tell you that they are doing amazing stuff. They are using these new spring-loaded syringes. You feel them put the plastic shell against your arm, hear a click, and you are done. You absolutely do not feel the needle or anything going into your arm. If it weren’t for the click, you wouldn’t know that the nurse actually did anything.
Note that a few alderman are hosting additional flu clinics in their ward. Most of these are co-sponsored by drug store chains and are not free unless your insurance covers it. The clinics marked with the blue spikes in the above map are sponsored by the CDPH and completely free to Chicago residents.