With respiratory virus season underway, the city health department has been urging all New Yorkers aged 6 months and older to get their updated flu and Covid-19 vaccines. Older adults — those aged 75 and older or ages 50 to 74 with risk factors for severe RSV, respiratory syncytial virus, which hits infants and older people the hardest, are also advised to get the RSV vaccine. So are those who are pregnant, if they’ve never received one.
The updated shots are designed to protect against the virus strains expected to circulate this fall and winter, helping to prevent severe illness, hospitalizations and deaths.
All three viruses tend to spread during the cold parts of the year. Recently, emergency departments have seen a spike in visits due to respiratory illnesses: During the week ending Oct. 18, ED visits for the flu increased by 100% and for RSV increased by 50% compared with the previous week, according to the city’s new Respiratory Illness Data Portal. ED visits tied to Covid have dipped recently but are expected to rise later this winter. This would raise concerns about another “tripledemic” straining hospitals.
If you haven’t yet gotten jabbed for flu or Covid-19 this year — or gotten your single lifetime dose of RSV vaccine if you’re eligible — here’s where to go for low-cost or free vaccinations.
The Bronx
Community Flu Clinics, Montefiore Einstein
- Free or low-cost flu shots
- Walk-ins welcome (early arrival recommended)
- Sat, Nov. 1, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. at Melrose Classic Center
–Address: 286 E 156th St
–Phone: (718) 665-7093
- Sun, Nov. 2, 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m. at Our Lady of Angels Parish
–Address: 2860 Webb Ave.
–Phone: (718) 548-3005
- Sun, Nov. 16, 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m. at St. Luke Church
–Address: 623 E 138th St.
–Phone: (718) 665-6677
NYC Health + Hospitals, Gotham Health Gunhill
- Offers flu shots for adults and children
- Address: 1012 East Gunhill Road (Between Paulding Ave. & Hone Ave.)
- Phone: 718-918-8850
Queens
Doma Rx Pharmacy
- Offers no-cost flu shots for uninsured individuals (minimum age: 2 years)
- Address: 96-19 69th Ave., Unit 1, Queens, NY 11375
- Phone: 646-479-2484
- Hours:
- Mon–Thu: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Fri: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Sun: 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Kissena Drugs & Surgical Supply
- Offers no-cost flu and Covid-19 shots for the uninsured (minimum age: 2 years)
- Address: 72-63 Kissena Boulevard, Queens, NY 11367
- Phone: 718-793-7658
- Hours:
- Mon–Fri: 12 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Sat: 12 a.m.–5 p.m.
Brooklyn
Fort Greene Health Center
- Offers low or no-cost immunizations regardless of immigration status
- Ages 4 and older eligible
- Address: 295 Flatbush Ave. Ext, Fifth Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201
- Phone: 347-396-7943
- Closed the third Tuesday of each month from 8:30a.m.–10 a.m. (immunizations begin at 10 a.m.)
- Walk-ins available depending on capacity
- Appointments recommended but not required
- To schedule: call 347-396-7943 or email BPHCInfo@health.nyc.gov
Maimonides Health (with Senator Roxanne J. Persaud)
- Free flu shot event
- Mon, Nov. 17, 12 p.m.–3 p.m.
- Location: 1222 East 96th St., Brooklyn
- Limited supplies — call 718-649-7653 to make an appointment
Rose Pharmacy
- Offers flu shots for ages 17 and older
- No cost for uninsured
- Address: 1074 Liberty Ave., Suite A, Brooklyn, NY 11208
- Phone: 718-235-3383
- Hours:
- Mon–Fri: 9:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
- Sat: 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Mon–Fri: 9:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
Shazia’s Pharmacy
- Offers flu shots for ages 4 and older
- No cost for uninsured
- Address: 3166 Coney Island Avenue, 1, Brooklyn, NY 11235
- Phone: 718-872-6090
- Hours: Mon–Fri 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
Thriftcare Pharmacy
- Offers flu shots for ages 4 and older
- No cost for uninsured
- Address: 759 Washington Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11238
- Phone: 718-638-3800
- Hours:
- Mon–Fri: 9 a.m.–7 p.m.
- Sat: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Mon–Fri: 9 a.m.–7 p.m.
- Covid-19 vaccines also available
Chester Pharmacy Corp
- Offers flu shots for ages 4 and older
- No cost for uninsured
- Address: 614 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11225
- Phone: 718-826-6117
- Hours:
- Mon–Fri: 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
- Sat: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Mon–Fri: 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
- Covid-19 vaccines also available
Manhattan
Ryan Chelsea-Clinton Community Health Center
- Recommended for uninsured and underinsured adults aged 19+
- Services provided regardless of ability to pay
- Address: 645 10th Ave., New York, NY 10036 (Between W 45th and 46th Streets)
- Phone: 212-749-1820
- Hours: Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Limited walk-ins available on a first-come, first-served basis
Family Pharmacy & Surgical
- Offers flu shots for ages 12 and older
- No cost for uninsured
- Address: 379 West 125th St., Manhattan, NY 10027
- Phone: 212-222-1300
- Hours:
- Mon–Fri: 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
- Sat: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Mon–Fri: 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
- Covid-19 vaccines also available
Staten Island
Beacon Christian Community Health Center
- ServingRecommended for uninsured and underinsured adults aged 19+
- Services provided regardless of ability to pay
- Address: 2079 Forest Avenue, Staten Island (Between Union and Bruckner Avenues)
- Phone: 718-815-6560
- Hours:
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri: 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Thu: 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri: 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Limited walk-ins available on a first-come, first-served basis
Hylan Care Pharma Corp
- Offers flu shots for ages 4 and older
- No cost for uninsured
- Address: 1509 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10305
- Phone: 718-400-8408
- Hours:
- Mon–Fri: 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
- Sat: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Mon–Fri: 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
Across NYC
NYC Health Department Immunization Clinics
- Provide flu, Covid-19 and other vaccines for children and adults
- Call 311 or use the NYC Health Map for locations
- Bring vaccination record and insurance info if available
- Sliding scale fees for uninsured adults; no copay if insured
NYC Health + Hospitals Centers
- Free flu, Covid-19 and RSV vaccines for established patients
- Call 844-NYC-4NYC to schedule or check walk-in hours
- Vaccines available at all hospitals and Gotham Health sites
- Eligible individuals can receive flu, Covid-19 and RSV vaccines simultaneously
Learn more about citywide sites offering vaccines here.
Did we miss a location that offers free or low-cost vaccines, especially to uninsured or underinsured New Yorkers? Did we list a location that no longer offers these services? Comment here or drop us a line at hello@epicenter-nyc.com.
