As the days get colder and the city transitions into flu season, the Boston Public Health Commission has teamed up with community centers throughout Boston to open clinics providing free vaccinations for residents and their families without the need of insurance, or identification.
With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expecting a similar amount of hospitalizations due to RSV-related complications compared to last season, these free clinics are providing health care to communities that would otherwise face significant barriers when trying to get their families vaccinated.
While preregistration is available, it is not required to make an appointment and anyone is allowed to simply walk into their nearest clinic.
Some locations also provide routine vaccinations for children, and if residents are looking to use this service, they are asked to bring their child’s immunization records. However, for general flu or COVID vaccinations, residents are not required to bring proof of insurance, though they are encouraged to if they have it.
Michael Curry, president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers explained the importance of vaccinations in the community.
“We know that vaccines save lives, that they’re scientifically effective and not only preventing disease within individuals, but also the spread of disease within communities,” he told the Banner.
A CDC study published in 2021 found that from 2009 to 2019, Black Americans had the highest rates of flu-related hospitalizations and intensive care admissions among all racial and ethnic groups.
Curry expressed the importance of higher risk communities getting access to resources provided by these free clinics. He went on to discuss the many misconceptions around vaccines, emphasizing that many of them are not based on factual evidence.
“The biggest obstacle today is [that] what you’re hearing out of the federal government is a questioning of long-settled science around vaccines, and it’s not based on data. It’s not based on research. It is based on feelings, and you know, some unproven studies,” he stated before emphasizing that people should seek information from trusted medical sources.
Curry also said the barriers that communities of color often face when it comes to health care access, such as education about vaccines, the ability to pay for it, and accessibility. He stressed the importance of building trust with health care providers,and the importance of extending access to information on vaccines.
“The proof is in the science, so to speak. We have to now really relay that to people,” he stated.
Curry’s own philosophy on the subject is “pay now, or pay greater later.” He highlighted the importance of going out and seeking these vaccinations early on and taking preventive measures to avoid more serious and costly health issues in the future.
“To know better is to live healthier,” he said.
Residents are encouraged to contact their health care provider or visit a local pharmacy to find an accessible vaccine clinic.
Contact the Mayor’s Health Line for free, confidential, multilingual health information and referral services at 617-534-5050. The Mayor’s Health Line helps all residents regardless of immigration status.
