Flu Shots: Where To Find 2021 Clinics In Tucson

TUCSON, AZ — Ready or not, flu season is just around the corner in Tucson.

The 2020-21 flu season is the second Tucson residents have faced while also fighting the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predict that during this flu season, both viruses will once again be spreading at the same time.

Influenza, commonly called “the flu,” is a highly contagious respiratory disease that can lead to serious illness, hospitalization or even death. Typical flu symptoms include fever, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache, muscle aches and extreme fatigue.

Flu symptoms are similar to those of COVID-19, though they usually appear more quickly. If you get tested for the flu this season, you may also have to get tested for COVID-19.

While the flu typically infects tens of millions of people each year, the 2019-20 flu season was an anomaly.

Flu activity was unusually low last flu season in the United States despite high levels of testing. Between Sept. 28, 2020, and May 22, 2021, only 1,675 — or 0.2 percent — of 818,939 respiratory specimens tested by U.S. clinical laboratories were positive for an influenza virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

By comparison, the 2019–20 flu season caused approximately 35 million flu-related illnesses, 16 million flu-related medical visits, 380,000 flu-related hospitalizations, and 20,000 flu-related deaths, according to CDC data.

The reason for the historically low numbers was likely COVID-19 mitigation measures such as wearing face masks, hand-washing, school closures and physical distancing.

Despite last year’s low numbers, annual flu vaccination is still recommended for everyone 6 months and older. There are a few exceptions. To date, more than 100 million Americans have gotten their flu shots, according to the CDC.

If you still need to get your flu vaccine, here are a few places to go in Tucson:

1. CVS Pharmacy, Inc. #10184
825 E University Blvd #101, Tucson, AZ 85719

2. SAFEWAY PHARMACY #1684
1940 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85719

3. SAFEWAY PHARMACY #255
1551 W St Marys Rd, Tucson, AZ 85745

4. Fry's Food And Drug #66000021
555 E Grant Rd, Tucson, AZ 85705

5. CVS Pharmacy, Inc. #09207
865 E Grant Rd, Tucson, AZ 85719

6. ALBERTSONS PHARMACY #3203
1350 N Silverbell Rd, Tucson, AZ 85745

7. Walmart Inc #10-5626
1260 E Tucson Marketplace Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85713

8. Fry's Food And Drug #66000020
3640 S 16th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85713

9. Walmart Inc #10-3884
3435 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85716

10. OSCO DRUG #961
2854 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85719

11. Walmart Inc #10-5725
831 E Fort Lowell Rd, Tucson, AZ 85719

12. CVS Pharmacy, Inc. #16772
3699 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85716

13. CVS Pharmacy, Inc. #10742
2385 N Silverbell Rd, Tucson, AZ 85745

14. SAFEWAY PHARMACY #1983
2140 W Grant Rd, Tucson, AZ 85745

15. CVS Pharmacy, Inc. #09274
615 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85716

16. CVS Pharmacy, Inc. #07876
3832 E Speedway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85716

17. Fry's Food And Drug #66000017
4150 E 22nd St, Tucson, AZ 85711

18. Fry's Food And Drug #66000058
2001 E Irvington Rd, Tucson, AZ 85714

19. CVS Pharmacy, Inc. #17223
4040 N Oracle Rd, Tucson, AZ 85705

20. Walmart Inc #10-3357
3925 E Grant Rd, Tucson, AZ 85712

21. Fry's Food And Drug #66000138
4036 N 1st Ave, Tucson, AZ 85719

22. CVS Pharmacy, Inc. #16659
1225 W Irvington Rd, Tucson, AZ 85714

23. CVS Pharmacy, Inc. #07841
4365 N Oracle Rd, Tucson, AZ 85705

24. Walmart Inc #10-1325
455 E Wetmore Rd, Tucson, AZ 85705

25. Sams Club #10-6692
4701 N Stone Ave, Tucson, AZ 85704

While there isn’t an official start or end to flu season, the CDC recommends people get vaccinated by the end of October.

Many Americans are also eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster shot. You can get a flu vaccine at the same time you get a COVID-19 vaccine, including a COVID-19 booster shot, according to the CDC.

To minimize your risk of contracting the flu, follow these three simple steps:

1. Get a flu vaccine. It’s the best way to fight the flu.
2. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and wash your hands often.
3. Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them. If you get the flu, antiviral drugs can be used to treat your illness.