Where to Find Free Flu Shots Throughout Pasadena

As the country braces for flu season, while still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, this may be the most important time ever to know where to find flu shot clinics in the Pasadena area, especially if they’re free.

Several organizations in Pasadena are hosting free flu shot clinics in the next few weeks.

Here is where you can find free shot clinics, and why it’s so important to get one today.

On Wednesday, Oct. 14, the First Church of the Nazarene and Huntington Hospital are hosting a free flu shot clinic at PazNaz’s upper West parking lot outside of Lee Chapel, at 3700 E. Sierra Madre Blvd., from 9 to 11 a.m. No reservations are needed. Flu shots will be first come, first served as long as supplies last. If you have any questions, contact Pastor Darwin Ng at dng@paznaz.org or call (626) 351-2461. You may also visit www.paznaz.org.

From 9:30 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, Pasadena Senior Center, located at 85 E. Holly St., will host a flu shot clinic, in partnership with Huntington Hospital. No appointment is needed, but PSC highly recommends making one to ensure social distancing. Call (626) 795-4331 to make your appointment. You are required to wear a mask and social distancing will be implemented. For more information, email info@pasadenaseniorcenter.org.

Pasadena Public Library will offer free standard dose flu shots this month, starting with a Walk-Up Clinic at La Pintoresca Branch Library from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, in partnership with Huntington Hospital Community Outreach. Flu shots will be provided to adults and children ages 9 to 17 who have a parent or guardian present for consent. Flu shots are available on a first come, first served basis. No reservations are required.

From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 28 and 29, the Pasadena Public Health Department will have free flu vaccine clinics at John Muir High School, 1905 Lincoln Ave. This will be repeated from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 4-5 at Pasadena High School, 2925 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Shots will be available for ages 6 months and older. Children under 18 must have a guardian present. Wear a short-sleeved shirt and a cloth face covering. Physical distancing will be observed at all times.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu shots can keep you from getting sick with flu. The flu vaccine prevents millions of illnesses and flu-related doctor’s visits each year. For example, during 2018-19, flu vaccination prevented an estimated 4.4 million influenza illnesses, 2.3 million influenza-associated medical visits, 58,000 influenza-associated hospitalizations, and 3,500 influenza-associated deaths.

During seasons when the flu vaccine viruses are similar to circulating flu viruses, flu shots have been shown to reduce the risk of having to go to the doctor with flu by 40 to 60 percent.

Flu vaccination can reduce the risk of flu-associated hospitalization for children, working-age adults, and older adults. A 2018 study showed that from 2012 to 2015, flu vaccination among adults reduced the risk of being admitted to an intensive care unit with flu by 82 percent.

Another study this year found that during the 2018-19 flu season, flu vaccination reduced flu-associated hospitalization by 41 percent, and flu-associated emergency department visits by half among children ages 6 months to 17 years old.

Flu vaccination is an important preventive tool for people with chronic health conditions. It has been associated with lower rates of some cardiac events among people with heart disease, especially among those who had had a cardiac event in the past year.

Flu vaccination also helps protect women during and after pregnancy, reducing the risk of flu-associated acute respiratory infection in pregnant women by about one-half, the CDC said.

For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/vaccine-benefits.htm.