Free Flu Shots Offered To Meriden Residents 18 And Younger

From City of Meriden

MERIDEN, CT — The City of Meriden Department of Health and Human Services is committed to keeping its youngest residents healthy. Free flu shots are available at the Public Health Clinic (165 Miller Street) for Meriden residents ages 18 and younger, regardless of their health insurance status.

The clinic is offering extended evening and Saturday hours on select days in October and December to help accommodate caregivers’ busy schedules.

"Our goal is to ensure that all Meriden families have access to flu shots this season,” said Lea Crown, MPH, Director of Health and Human Services. “Young kids, under 5 years old, are at higher risk for severe illness from the influenza virus and we want to help protect them from possible complications like pneumonia.”

The Public Health Clinic is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In October, the clinic will remain open until 6 p.m. on Tuesdays (Oct. 8, 15, 22, and 29), and on Saturday, Oct.19, the clinic will be open from 9 to 11 a.m. In December, the clinic will remain open until 6 p.m. on Tuesdays (Dec. 3, 10, and 17).

The Connecticut Department of Public Health requires kids, ages 6 months to 5 years old who attend pre-kindergarten, a licensed childcare center, group day care homes, or family day care, to get an annual flu shot by Dec. 31. Caregivers may also get their annual flu shot with their child. Adult flu shots are $20 and FluBlock is $35 (cash or check). The Public Health Clinic also accepts Connecticare, Cigna, and Aetna health insurance plans.

Meriden residents can call 203-630-4234 to schedule their flu shot appointment. For more information about childhood vaccines, visit https://bit.ly/ChildhoodVaccinesMeriden.

In addition to flu shots, the City of Meriden Department of Health and Human Services is ramping up efforts to educate caregivers about the importance of childhood vaccines. The department is launching several initiatives, including:

• Marley the Lion, a new family-friendly mascot to help engage young children and families at community events.
• A robust social media campaign to provide caregivers with additional information about childhood vaccines and why they’re important.
• New print materials and a comprehensive FAQ page to answer caregivers’ most frequently asked questions about early childhood vaccines.

“I hope every resident will use us as a resource for preventing severe illness and contact us when they have vaccine-related questions,” Crown said.

The Public Health Clinic in Meriden provides all the school-required vaccines for kids who are eligible, including those who don’t have health insurance or are underinsured, through the Connecticut Vaccines Program (CVP).

For more information about the City of Meriden Department of Health and Human Services visit www.meridenhealth.com and follow them on Facebook.