With the arrival of fall and cooler temperatures come respiratory illnesses, such as the flu and COVID-19, vaccines are the best form of protection and help minimize symptoms if you do get infected. Here’s how to get them for free or at a low cost.
Which vaccines are required?
Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) recommend the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine for all adults. For those 65 and older, the AAFP suggests a higher-dose or adjuvanted vaccine, but clarifies that it is more important to get vaccinated as soon as possible, using whatever vaccine is available.
Ideally, you should get vaccinated every year, because protection wanes and the vaccine formula is updated to combat the latest variants.
How do I get vaccinated?
At the federal level, if you have insurance—including Medicare Part B and Medicaid—and visit a provider in your network, you can get vaccinated at no cost. For those without insurance, there are programs run by state health departments and community health centers that offer vaccines for free or at a low cost, depending on the location. Information about the flu vaccine varies from county to county, but it is generally provided by local health departments.
Although most vaccination sites do not require proof of immigration status to receive a vaccine, some sites do require photo identification. In Florida and Texas, hospitals that accept Medicaid are required to ask about immigration status. According to civil rights organizations, you can refuse to answer, and your response should not affect the care you receive.
Below, we share information on where to find vaccines in some of the country’s states..
New York
- The COVID-19 vaccine is not currently available at clinics in New York City. According to official information, it is expected to be available soon.
- Through the “Vaccines for Adults” program, you can get free vaccines at community health centers and rural health centers. Use the Health Care Facility Locator from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to find the one nearest you by entering your address in the search bar and pressing Enter. The page will display a map of the centers available to you.
- In New York City, you can visit city-run clinics regardless of your ability to pay or your immigration status. Check the addresses and schedule an appointment here. You can schedule an appointment at the Brooklyn location by clicking “Schedule an Appointment at the Immunization Clinic,” filling out the information, and selecting the date and time. For the Manhattan location, you can call 212-749-1820. For Staten Island, call 212-749-1820.
- You can also use the city’s health map and, using the filters, explore nearby vaccination sites at no cost. Once you’ve entered, select the vaccine you’re interested in and scroll down to the filters. There, you can select the option that best fits your situation.
Florida
- You can find the nearest health office on the Florida Health website and by entering your address or the county where you live. To confirm the information, you can call your local health department at the phone number listed on the page.
- The Vaccines for Adults program is designed for adults aged 19 and older who are uninsured or whose insurance does not cover the vaccine, through health departments and community health centers. The state’s website states that vaccines usually come at a cost, but that financial assistance may be available. Prices start at $20.
Texas
- The Texas Department of Health Services created the Adult Health Protection Network program (Adult Safety Net, ASN) to help uninsured adults aged 19 and older get vaccinated. The provider map on their website is not up to date, but you can get more information by calling 221 Texas and asking about local vaccination clinics for uninsured adults.
California
- You can use MyTurn, the state’s official website, to search for and schedule vaccine appointments. The first step is to enter your ZIP code and click ‘Search”.
- San Francisco offers free flu and COVID-19 vaccines to uninsured residents at various locations. To schedule an appointment or confirm your appointment time, you can call the San Francisco Community Health Center (415-292-3400).
