WESTFORD—The Westford Health Department holds flu vaccination clinics to help residents protect themselves from serious illness from the influenza virus. There is one more clinic left, which will run from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23, at Westford Academy’s cafeteria, 30 Patten Road. Residents can pre-register on the health department’s website and walk-ins are welcome. Clinics are open to children age 3 to 18 and adults. The high-dose flu vaccine for people age 65 and older is also available.
In Massachusetts, there is no out-of-pocket cost for people to get a flu vaccine and your insurance company will cover it, or you will be covered through your state insurance.
(In the photo at the top of this article, Peter Desforge of Westford gets his annual flu shot).
Last year, the town administered 693 flu shots with the help of the Upper Merrimack Valley Medical Reserve Corps, working under the direction of the Westford Health Department, said Gail Johnson, RN, a public health nurse with the health department.
Rae Dick, Westford’s health department director, said the medical reserve corps volunteers really help the town by providing their time and service, which reduces the cost of doing the clinics and allows the town to purchase additional vaccines.
Johnson said that medical experts recommend everyone age 6 months and older receive an annual flu vaccine.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s preliminary estimates for the 2024-2025 flu season, with data from between October 2024 and May 2025, there were between 47 million and 82 million flu illnesses in the country and between 27,000 and 130,000 people died from the flu.
If residents miss the last flu vaccination clinic, Johnson said they can contact the health department to see if there are leftover vaccines. Vaccines are also available at local pharmacies.
