Watch CBS News

Free Flu Shots Available At City Health Centers

By Pat Loeb

PHILADLEPHIA (CBS) -- The Philadelphia Health Department is offering free flu shots at city health centers. Health officials are advising that anyone over six months old should get one.

It's not a guarantee that you won't get the flu, according to health commissioner James Buehler.

"No vaccine is 100 percent effective and it's difficult to predict from year to year whether the flu strain that will circulate line up with the strains in the vaccine," says Buehler. "We don't have enough data yet for the current flu season to know how good the alignment will be."

But Buehler says it can't hurt.

"It reduces your risk of getting infected in the first place or of having a severe consequence."

Flu shots are widely available and are covered by insurance, but they are free at city health centers to those without insurance.

Just bring ID, proof of residency and your insurance card, if you have one.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.