Americares and Walgreens Offer Flu Shots for Uninsured and Underinsured Patients

Walgreens Pharmacist Angela Nikitas gives a flu shot at the Bob Macauley Americares Free Clinic in Norwalk.

Stamford, Conn. – Sept. 13, 2018 – Americares Free Clinics and Walgreens are offering no-cost flu shots in October to help keep the uninsured and underinsured healthy this flu season. Now in its fourth year, the partnership annually vaccinates nearly 700 Fairfield County residents who cannot afford a flu shot.

“The best time to get vaccinated is before the flu begins spreading in your community,” said Americares Free Clinics Director of Volunteer Services and Community Outreach Terri McCartney. “Our annual flu shot campaign with Walgreens ensures Fairfield County residents without health insurance, or those who are unable to afford the flu shot, have access to this important vaccine.”

Flu shots will be available at no cost to eligible residents age 18 and over during walk-in clinics scheduled throughout the month at the Americares Free Clinics in Bridgeport, Danbury, Norwalk and Stamford. Immunizations will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis, while supplies last. They will be administered by a Walgreens pharmacist.

The flu shot vouchers are donated by Walgreens and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of a national program to make flu shots available to those without health insurance coverage or to those who are unable to afford a flu shot.

The best way to prevent influenza is to get vaccinated every year, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone 6 months of age and older get vaccinated. Seasonal influenza can lead to serious illness, hospitalization and even death. Young children, the elderly and adults with underlying medical conditions are most at risk. The CDC estimates influenza vaccinations prevented approximately 5.3 million illnesses, 2.6 million medical visits and nearly 85,000 influenza-associated hospitalizations during the 2016-2017 flu season.

Flu clinic dates and times:

Danbury

Tuesday, October 9, Tuesday, October 16 & Tuesday, October 23

4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Boehringer Ingelheim Americares Free Clinic

76 West Street, Danbury

203.748.6188

Bridgeport

Wednesday, October 10

3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday, October 20

9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Fred Weisman Americares Free Clinic

115 Highland Ave, Bridgeport

203.333.9175

Norwalk

Wednesday, October 10 & Wednesday, October 17

4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Bob Macauley Americares Free Clinic

98 South Main Street, Norwalk

203.899.2493

Stamford

Monday, October 15

4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Americares Free Clinic

401 Shippan Avenue, Stamford

Tuesday, October 9

5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Building One Community

75 Selleck Street, Stamford

203.658.9507

About Americares Free Clinics

The Americares Free Clinics provide quality health care to low-income, uninsured patients in a setting where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect. Since 1994, our clinics in Bridgeport, Danbury, Norwalk and Stamford have helped more than 26,000 Connecticut residents receive free health care services valued at $94 million. For more information, go to americaresfreeclinics.org or call 203.658.9500.