CANANDAIGUA, NY — UR Medicine Thompson Health has scheduled six community flu clinics in Canandaigua and other places in Ontario County.
Administered to those 9 and older at these clinics, the standard 2025-26 vaccine provides protection against three flu virus strains — two As and a B. As it stands right now, anyone can be vaccinated, unlike for COVID-19, according to Ontario County Public Health Director Kate Ott, who encourages people to get flu shots.
Why do health experts recommend flu shots?
Influenza still kills thousands of people every year in the U.S. Last flu season, 25 children died in New York of flu, the highest number on record in the state, Ott said.
“Unacceptable. This is a vaccine-preventable illness,” Ott said. “Flu shots aren’t perfect, but they may keep you out of the hospital and can mean the difference between life and death.”
A high-dose flu vaccine is available for those 65 and older. This contains additional antigen designed to create a stronger immune response for the recipient.
Older adults, little children, pregnant women, nursing home residents and those with underlying illnesses such as asthma, lung disease, heart disease and diabetes, among others, are most likely to be hospitalized or die of flu, said Ott, who had the flu once — at age 38 and was unvaccinated at the time.
Ott, who had no underlying health conditions, missed two weeks of work and felt awful.
“I thought I was going to die,” Ott said. “Get a flu shot, even if you’re otherwise healthy. No one needs the flu.”
When are the UR Medicine Thompson Health flu clinics?
The first flu clinic is scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 18 at Thompson Health Canandaigua Urgent Care, 699 S. Main St., Canandaigua.
Next up is a clinic from 3 to 6 p.m. Sept. 25 at Farmington Town Hall, 1000 County Road 8, Farmington.
Hopewell Fire Station No. 2 will host a clinic from 3 to 6 p.m. Sept. 29. The fire station is at 4018 state Routes 5 & 20, Canandaigua.
Flu shots will also be offered at clinics during the month of October.
Clinics are scheduled from 3 to 6 p.m. Oct. 8 at Thompson Health Farmington Urgent Care, 1160 Corporate Drive, Farmington; 3 to 6 p.m. Oct. 13 at Veterans Park, 6910 state Routes 5 & 20, Bloomfield; and 3 to 6 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Victor Fire Department, 34 Maple Ave., Victor.
How much are the flu shots?
The flu shots are free to patients with insurance; patients must present an insurance card at the time of the visit.
The self-pay cost for those without insurance is $45, and $80 for the high-dose vaccine. Payments by cash, check, MasterCard or Visa will be accepted.
For more information
Visit www.ThompsonHealth.com/flu or call 585-924-1550 for more information.
Mike Murphy covers Canandaigua and other communities in Ontario County and writes the Eat, Drink and Be Murphy food and drink column. Follow him on X at @MPN_MikeMurphy.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Flu shots now available: See where you can get vaccinated in Ontario County
Reporting by Mike Murphy, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
