Free Flu Shots for Kids Offered in Nashua

Have you had a flu shot yet?

Despite the flu running rampant through the state and around the country, health officials are saying it's not too late to get your shot.

The City of Nashua, Division of Public Health and Community Services is encouraging anyone who is six months of age or older who has not yet received this year’s flu vaccine to get vaccinated. This year’s seasonal influenza vaccine is a good match to the strains of flu that are circulating so far, they say.

Kerran Vigroux, division director of the Nashua Division of Public Health and Community Services says, “Influenza can be very serious and lead to complications in certain people. There are things we can all do to try to keep ourselves healthy and flu-free.  One of the most effective is getting vaccinated against the flu.”

Those who are at higher risk for complications from influenza include older adults, young children, people with certain long term health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease and women who are pregnant.

Flu is spread from person to person through coughing and sneezing.  Staying home and limiting contact with other people when you are sick with the flu will help prevent the spread to others, health officials say.

Typical flu symptoms include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and muscle aches.   

Seek medical care immediately if you observe/experience signs of severe illness, including:

In Children:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing

• Bluish skin color

• Not drinking enough fluids

• Not waking up or not interacting

• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held

• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

• Fever with a rash

In Adults:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

• Sudden dizziness

• Confusion

• Severe or persistent vomiting

DPHCS advises people to contact their medical provider’s office before going in to find out about prevention measures they are using at their facility.

The DPHCS Community Health Department offers flu vaccinations during weekly clinics at 18 Mulberry St, in Nashua. Clinics are Tuesdays from 4:00pm to 7:00 pm and Fridays from 8:30am to 10:30am. Vaccinations are free for children 18 years old and younger and $15 for adults. Medicare recipients must bring their Medicare card. No one will be turned away if unable to pay.

For this week only, additional clinics have been scheduled for the following times:

• Wednesday, Jan. 16, from 4-7 p.m.; and
• Thursday, Jan. 17 from 4-7 p.m.

You can also get a flu shot in Merrimack at the following locations (and from your own doctor, of course):

Rite Aid, 416 Daniel Webster Highway

CVS, 456 Daniel Webster Highway

Walgreens, 615 Daniel Webster Highway

Osco Drug, 570 Daniel Webster Highway

Osco Drug, 7 Continental Boulevard

For  more  information  on  influenza  and  the  vaccination clinics,  contact  the  City of Nashua, Division of Public Health and Community Services at (603) 589-4560.  Visit  the  City of Nashua website at www.NashuaNH.gov, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website  at  www.cdc.gov, and the  NH Department of Health and Human Services  website at www.dhhs.nh.gov for  more  information.