Flu Vaccine Clinics 

Ledge Light Health District will provide free flu vaccines at our clinics in October. The regular and high dose flu shots will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at no cost for individuals 3 years and older. Parents/Guardians must be present for children under 18 years old. Please call Mary at 860-326-0753 to register.

  • Friday, October 18, 10:00AM-3:00PM, Groton Municipal Building, 295 Meridian Street, Groton
  • Monday, October 21, 10:00AM-3:00PM, East Lyme Senior Center, 37 Society Road, Niantic

It is recommended that people wear a tank top, short-sleeved shirt, or loose-fitting clothes for easy access to the upper arm.

If you have any questions, please call us at 860-448-4882.

Flu

Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. It spreads around the United States every year, usually between October and May. The best way to reduce the risk of the flu and its potentially serious complications is by getting the flu vaccine each year.

The CDC recommends everyone 6 months of age and older, with rare exceptions, receive an updated 2024-2025 flu vaccine to reduce the risk of influenza and its potentially serious complications this fall and winter. CDC encourages providers to begin their influenza vaccination planning efforts now and to vaccinate patients as indicated once 2024-2025 influenza vaccines become available.

Most people need only one dose of the flu vaccine each season. While CDC recommends flu vaccination as long as influenza viruses are circulating, September and October remain the best times for most people to get vaccinated. Flu vaccination in July and August is not recommended for most people, but there are several considerations regarding vaccination during those months for specific groups:

  • Pregnant people who are in their third trimester can get a flu vaccine in July or August to protect their babies from flu after birth, when they are too young to get vaccinated.
  • Children who need two dosesof the flu vaccine should get their first dose of vaccine as soon as it becomes available. The second dose should be given at least four weeks after the first.
  • Vaccination in July or August can be considered for children who have health care visits during those months if there might not be another opportunity to vaccinate them.
  • For adults (especially those 65 years old and older) and pregnant people in the first and second trimester, vaccination in July and August should be avoided unless it won’t be possible to vaccinate in September or October.

Prevention

Even though how well the vaccine works varies from year to year, the flu vaccine remains the single best tool we have in preventing flu infections, flu-related hospitalizations, and flu-related deaths. Following other basic healthy habits like cleaning your hands often with warm, soapy water or an alcohol-based sanitizer, avoiding touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unclean hands, and covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow when you cough or sneeze can also help prevent the spread of flu.

Even when flu vaccination does not prevent illness entirely, several studies have shown that it reduces the severity of illness in people who get vaccinated but still get sick.

Helpful Resources