Vaccine photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

The Fresno County Department of Public Health (FCDPH) announced Tuesday that it has collaborated with several partners to bring residents no-cost flu vaccination clinics for the 2024-25 flu season at multiple locations throughout the county.

The partnership between the FCDPH, University of California San Francisco-Fresno (UCSF) and Saint Agnes Medical Center (SAMC) will enable residents that are unable to visit their medical provider or local pharmacy to receive flu vaccines.

The 2024-25 vaccine is designed to protect recipients against the three most common flu viruses this season and provides the best defense against the illness and its complications. The vaccine, which takes approximately two weeks to become fully effective, protects recipients for up to one year.

FCDPH officials encourage everyone over the age of six months to get vaccinated regardless of age or health status. Children under eight years of age that have had one or fewer doses in their lifetime should receive two flu vaccinations, four weeks apart.

Individuals are also eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as their flu vaccine. This year’s updated COVID-19 vaccine protects recipients against the most prevalent variants of the virus.

The joint-departments’ first walk-up flu vaccination clinic will be held on Thursday, Sept. 26 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Dunlap Elementary School located at 39667 Dunlap Road in Dunlap. Future dates, times and locations for FCDPH flu vaccination clinics can be found at their website.

For additional information, residents are urged to contact the FCDPH Immunization Program at (559) 600-3550.