Politics & Government

Melrose Stocked With Flu Vaccines, Despite State Cut

After the state said it wouldn't be providing as much free flu vaccine this year to local health department as in past years, the Melrose Board of Health purchased vaccine in order to continue its flu vaccine clinics.

Editor's note: This article was updated on Wednesday at 1 p.m. with the cost of the vaccines.

Facing a cut in free flu vaccines from the state, the Melrose Board of Health purchased flu vaccines this year in order to continue the flu vaccine clinics it runs every fall.

On Tuesday, the Boston Globe reported that this year, the state Department of Public Health is cutting in half the amount of free flu vaccine it distributes, "sharply limiting the supplies that will be available at local health departments and community health centers."

Find out what's happening in Melrosewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

However, Melrose's public flu clinics will continue as usual because the Board of Health was notified in advance of the state's cut and "took the initiative to purchase vaccine," according to a statement emailed to Melrose Patch by Ruth Clay, director.

Clay told Melrose Patch that last year, approximately 1,400 flu vaccinations were administered by through the city's public clinics, and that 1,300 doses were purchased at a cost of approximately $10,000 for this flu season.

Find out what's happening in Melrosewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The public flu clinics will begin at the Melrose Victorian Fair on Sunday, Sept. 11. 

This year, the flu and pneumonia vaccines will be free for all people 18 and older who have one of a list of insurance cards, according to the statement from the Health Department. In the past, the vaccines were free only for people with Medicare.

The list of accepted insurance cards includes:

  • Blue Cross
  • Tufts
  • Fallon
  • Harvard Pilgrim
  • BMC Healthnet
  • Health New England
  • Unicare
  • Neighborhood Health Plan
  • Medicare

For all others, the cost of a shot remains $10.

Once the remaining supply of purchased vaccine is delivered, the dates of the other flu clinics will be scheduled and advertised on Melrose Patch. For the most up-to-date information, call the Melrose Health Department’s flu hotline at 781-979-4127 which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Melrose residents will also be welcome at the flu clinics in Wakefield and Reading this year. These dates will also be included on the Flu Hotline.


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