Boston Opens COVID-19, Flu Vaccination Clinics

Boston is expanding its flu and COVID-19 vaccination clinics amid a surge in flu cases. In December 2025, the city experienced a sharp rise in cases, and early 2026 figures remain above 2025 levels.

According to a Boston.com report, the city of Boston held the first of the series of free vaccine clinics on Wednesday, Jan. 7, at City Hall. Another was held on Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Josephine A. Fiorentino Community Center in Brighton.

 Two more vaccine clinics will be held this month, in Hyde Park and Dorchester:

Vaccination clinics emphasize that while clinic staff will ask for insurance and ID cards, these items are not required to receive the vaccines. Pre-registration is available, with multilingual help provided via the Mayor's Health Line.

Vaccinations are free and available to anyone 6 months or older, no appointment necessary.

According to a post on Instagram from the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), flu cases increased by 114% during the week of Dec. 14. The rate of increase is three times higher among children. 

Adults older than 65 and children younger than 2 years old are at higher risk for complications from infection, according to the commission. The BPHC has reported that two children younger than 2 years old have died of the flu in Boston this season. Four children have died of the flu statewide. 

Thirty-three adults have died as a result of a new variant of influenza A, known as the subclade K, which has severely impacted Massachusetts, according to a Boston Globe report.

Since last September, the city has held 27 vaccination clinics so far this flu season.