Community Health Centers vaccinate more than 6,000 people as they answer Mayor Menino's call to organize emergency flu clinics across the city

1-14-13 Feature Story:

Part of an effort to increase access to quality care, close to home

Boston's community health centers vaccinated more than 6,000 people this weekend after the city of Boston declared a public health emergency on January 9 in response to the increasing numbers of influenza cases being reported in and around Boston. At the request of Mayor Thomas Menino, Boston community health centers organized 24 public flu clinics on January 11, 12 and 13. Visit our newsroom for media coverage of flu clinic efforts.

In addition, health centers in Boston and across the state continue to provide flu shots to community residents in need. Click here to find a health center near you.

To help reduce the impact of flu on the health care system statewide, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health developed “Flu: What You Can Do? Caring for People at Home” to help you care for yourself and your family without having to visit your health care provider:

What the difference is between a cold and the flu
How to keep from getting the flu
How to care for someone who has the flu
When a person should call the doctor, or seek immediate assistance through 911

This report is available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Arabic, Vietnamese, Russian, Khmer, and Chinese. Handwashing materials are also available in multiple languages. Visit www.mass.gov/dph/flu to download.