Your Complete Guide to Getting a Flu Shot

Autumn means crisp weather, colorful leaves and, unfortunately for many, the flu. Although seasonal flu activity tends to peak at the beginning of the new year — in January and February — the season sometimes begins as early as October and doesn’t always end until May, according to flu.gov.

With so many free flu shots available borough wide, though, there’s no reason Brooklynites can’t enjoy the season influenza-free.

Who Should Get a Flu Shot?
The Center for Disease Control recommends that everyone over six months old should get an annual flu vaccine, though pregnant women, seniors, and young children are considered the most at risk.

Different flu shots are available for varying age brackets. The high-dose flu shot is recommended only for those over 65 years old, and the intradermal flu shots are recommended only for those between 18 and 64 years of age. Children under six months should not get flu shots.

What Are the Side Effects of Getting a Flu Shot?
Despite some misconception, the flu shot cannot give you the flu. Vaccinations contain either noninfectious, inactivated flu viruses, or no virus at all, according to the Center for Disease Control.

Nasal spray vaccination does contain the live flu virus, but due to the virus’ weakened state it too is incapable of causing influenza.

While you will not get the flu from the vaccination, side effects from the flu shot can include aches and a low grade fever, but these should pass within 48 hours. Very rarely, people may have allergic reactions.

What If I Already Have the Flu?
If you believe you may already have the flu, you can go to your doctor to be tested. Flu symptoms are very similar to those of the common cold, including fatigue, headache, cough, and runny nose.

To test for the flu, doctors will swab inside your nose or throat and test the sample to confirm if you have the flu or not. The process does not typically take longer than 15 minutes.

Where Can I Get a Flu Shot in Brooklyn?
Most Duane Reade, CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, Pathmark, CityMD, and Target outlets throughout the borough offer flu vaccinations. Various neighborhood clinics and pharmacies can provide the shot as well.

Where Can I Learn More?
The CDC provides flu activity updates on its website in addition to further vaccine information, and other free resources. The Official Website of New York State has maps of clinics throughout the state which offer vaccination, and NYC.gov provides New York City-related flu information on its website.

Do People Die From the Flu?
Yes, there are annual rates of hospitalizations and fatalities from the seasonal flu virus. The CDC notes that there are not conclusive rates of death from the flu as death certificates do not often list cause of death as the flu if people died from complications from being sick. Flu can indirectly lead to death by weakening the immune system and leading to pneumonia, congestive heart failure, and other critical illnesses.

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Bath Beach
Rite Aid Pharmacy
1532 86th Street Brooklyn 11228
(718) 234-8444

Walgreens Drug Store
1514 86th Street Brooklyn 11228
(800) 358-9950

Bay Ridge
Duane Reade Pharmacy
432 86th Street Brooklyn 11209
(718) 833-7758

Walgreens Drug Store
9408 3rd Avenue Brooklyn 11209
(800) 358-9950

Rite Aid Pharmacy
7118 3rd Avenue Brooklyn 11209
(718) 745-2830

Rite Aid Pharmacy
7501 5th Avenue Brooklyn 11209
(718) 492-4495

Rite Aid Pharmacy
9302 3rd Avenue Brooklyn 11209
(718) 491-0442

Rite Aid Pharmacy
6900 4th Avenue Brooklyn 11209
(718) 748-8184

Rite Aid Pharmacy
7821 3rd Avenue Brooklyn 11209
(718) 630-5482

Rite Aid Pharmacy
3823 Nostrand Avenue Brooklyn 11235
(718) 743-8933

Bedford Stuyvesant
Duane Reade Pharmacy
247 Herkimer Street Brooklyn 11216
(718) 623-0332

Walgreens Drug Store
1281-1285 Fulton Street Brooklyn 11216
(800) 358-9950

Walgreens Drug Store
1366 Broadway Brooklyn 11221
(800) 358-9950

Rite Aid Pharmacy
1950 Fulton Street Brooklyn 11233
(718) 493-0854

Duane Reade Pharmacy
756 Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn 11206
(718) 237-4528

Bensonhurst
Rite Aid Pharmacy
2007 86th Street Brooklyn 11214
(718) 373-8185

Walgreens Drug Store
6628 18th Avenue Brooklyn 11204
(800) 358-9950

Rite Aid Pharmacy
8222 18th Avenue Brooklyn 11214
(718) 256-6635

Bergen Beach
Duane Reade Pharmacy
2265 Ralph Avenue Brooklyn 11234
(718) 241-3700

Boerum Hill
Rite Aid Pharmacy
182 Smith Street Brooklyn 11201
(718) 246-4226

Borough Park
Duane Reade Pharmacy
4707 16th Avenue Brooklyn 11204
(718) 438-1800

Rite Aid Pharmacy
5102 13th Avenue Brooklyn 11219
(718) 435-5684

Brighton Beach
Walgreens Drug Store
713 Brighton Beach Avenue Brooklyn 11235
(800) 358-9950

Brooklyn Heights
Duane Reade Pharmacy
16 Court Street Brooklyn 11241
(718) 855-3980

Passport Health Brooklyn
300 Cadman Plaza West Brooklyn NY 11201
(516) 626-2004

Mobile Health
50 Court Street Brooklyn, NY 11201
(212) 695-5122

Rite Aid Pharmacy
120 Court Street Brooklyn 11201
(718) 643-2146

Rite Aid Pharmacy
168 Montague Street Brooklyn 11201
(718) 522-2991

Duane Reade Pharmacy
44 Court Street Brooklyn 11201
(718) 852-1082

Brownsville
Brownsville Child Health Clinic
259 Bristol Street Brooklyn 11212
(718) 495-7283

Walgreens Drug Store
1134 East New York Avenue Brooklyn 11212
(800) 358-9950

Rite Aid Pharmacy
1631 Pitkin Avenue Brooklyn 11212
(718) 498-9530

Rite Aid Pharmacy
1154 Clarkson Avenue Brooklyn 11212
(718) 345-6355

Bushwick
Bushwick Communicare Clinic
335 Central Avenue Brooklyn 11221
(718) 573-4882

Walgreens Drug Store
755 Broadway Brooklyn 11206
(800) 358-9950

Rite Aid Pharmacy
355 Knickerbocker Avenue Brooklyn 11237
(718) 821-2678

Canarsie
Rite Aid Pharmacy
9738 Seaview Avenue Brooklyn 11236
(718) 968-1584

Walgreens Drug Store
1847 Rockaway Parkway Brooklyn 11236
(800) 358-9950

Walgreens Drug Store
1404 Rockaway Parkway Brooklyn 11236
(800) 358-9950

Rite Aid Pharmacy
7812 Flatlands Avenue Brooklyn 11236
(718) 531-5023

Carroll Gardens
Rite Aid Pharmacy
320 Smith Street Brooklyn 11231
(718) 403-9371

Coney Island
Rite Aid Pharmacy
3001 Mermaid Avenue Brooklyn 11224
(718) 373-2818

Walgreens Drug Store
532 Neptune Avenue Brooklyn 11224
(800) 358-9950

Crown Heights
Rite Aid Pharmacy
1679 Bedford Avenue Brooklyn 11225
(718) 282-7476

Rite Aid Pharmacy
1040 St. Johns Place Brooklyn 11213
(718) 953-7150

Ditmas Park
Duane Reade Pharmacy
1825 Nostrand Avenue Brooklyn 11226
(718) 693-3059

Walgreens Drug Store
114 Beverly Road Brooklyn 11218
(800) 358-9950

Walgreens Drug Store
2101 Church Avenue Brooklyn 11226
(800) 358-9950

Rite Aid Pharmacy
1419 Newkirk Avenue Brooklyn 11226
(718) 940-1794

Duane Reade Pharmacy
1517 Cortelyou Road Brooklyn 11226
(718) 287-9078

Downtown Brooklyn
Duane Reade Pharmacy
386-390 Fulton Street Brooklyn 11201
(718) 330-0363

King’s Pharmacy
357 Flatbush Avenue Extension Brooklyn 11238
(718) 230-3535

Duane Reade Pharmacy
520-524 Fulton Street Brooklyn 11201
(718) 643-9505

Dyker Heights
Rite Aid Pharmacy
7009 13th Avenue Brooklyn 11228
(718) 256-1761

Walgreens Drug Store
7002 13th Avenue Brooklyn 11228
(800) 358-9950

Rite Aid Pharmacy
6423 Fort Hamilton Parkway Brooklyn 11219
(718) 567-0890

East Flatbush
Duane Reade Pharmacy
1 Remsen Ave Brooklyn 11212
(718) 953-5084

King’s Pharmacy
492 Clarkson Avenue Brooklyn 11203
(718) 363-3300

Walgreens Drug Store
5001 Church Avenue Brooklyn 11203
(800) 358-9950

Walgreens Drug Store
3001-3009 Church Avenue Brooklyn 11226
(800) 358-9950

Rite Aid Pharmacy
2819 Church Avenue Brooklyn 11226
(718) 940-3461

Rite Aid Pharmacy
1559 Flatbush Avenue Brooklyn 11210
(718) 434-5755

Rite Aid Pharmacy
4102 Church Avenue Brooklyn 11203
(718) 940-1579

Rite Aid Pharmacy
4123 Avenue D Brooklyn 11203
(718) 629-2275

Rite Aid Pharmacy
506 Utica Avenue Brooklyn 11203
(718) 604-1323

East New York
East New York Diagnostic and Treatment Center Clinic
2094 Pitkin Avenue Brooklyn 11207
(718) 240-0400

Flatbush
Duane Reade Pharmacy
2126-2140 Nostrand Avenue Brooklyn 11210
(718) 434-1211

Rite Aid Pharmacy
892 Flatbush Avenue Brooklyn 11226
(718) 856-8841

Flatlands
Rite Aid Pharmacy
2577 Nostrand Avenue Brooklyn 11210
(718) 258-1812

Walgreens Drug Store
2325-2343 Flatbush Avenue Brooklyn 11234
(800) 358-9950

Walgreens Drug Store
4915 Flatlands Avenue Brooklyn 11234
(800) 358-9950

Fort Greene
Fort Greene Health Center
295 Flatbush Ave Brooklyn 11217
(718) 522-1144

Walgreens Drug Store
373-379 Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn 11205
(800) 358-9950

Gravesend
Rite Aid Pharmacy
344 Avenue X Brooklyn 11223
(718) 375-8257

Walgreens Drug Store
285 Kings Highway Brooklyn 11223
(800) 358-9950

Rite Aid Pharmacy
237 Avenue U Brooklyn 11223
(718) 946-4370

Rite Aid Pharmacy
185 Kings Highway Brooklyn 11223
(718) 331-2019

Greenpoint
Duane Reade Pharmacy
893 Manhattan Avenue Brooklyn 11222
(718) 389-6440

Rite Aid Pharmacy
723 Manhattan Avenue Brooklyn 11222
(718) 383-7967

Rite Aid Pharmacy
783 Manhattan Avenue Brooklyn 11222
(718) 383-6150

Kensington
Rite Aid Pharmacy
302 Church Avenue Brooklyn 11218
(718) 437-7765

Mapleton
Rite Aid Pharmacy
6101 18th Avenue Brooklyn 11204
(718) 236-0146

Rite Aid Pharmacy
2221 65th Street Brooklyn 11204
(718) 259-9378

Rite Aid Pharmacy
5901 Bay Parkway Brooklyn 11204
(718) 236-6366

Marine Park
Rite Aid Pharmacy
2324 Flatbush Avenue Brooklyn 11234
(718) 951-6869

Midwood
Duane Read Pharmacy
1401 Kings Highway Brooklyn 11229
(718) 627-9199

Walgreens Drug Store
1401 Avenue J Brooklyn 11230
(800) 358-9950

Walgreens Drug Store
946 Kings Highway Brooklyn 11223
(800) 358-9950

Rite Aid Pharmacy
1720 Kings Highway Brooklyn 11229
(718) 998-3377

Mill Basin
Rite Aid Pharmacy
2064 Mill Avenue Brooklyn 11234
(718) 531-0408

Walgreens Drug Store
5716 Avenue U Brooklyn 11234
(800) 358-9950

Park Slope
Rite Aid Pharmacy
462 Fifth Avenue Brooklyn 11215
(718) 499-7500

Greentree Pharmacy
291 7th Avenue Brooklyn 11215
(718) 768-2700

Rite Aid Pharmacy
249 7th Avenue Brooklyn 11215
(718) 768-9567

Premier Care
418-420 5th Avenue Brooklyn 11215
(718) 965-2273

Prospect Lefferts Gardens
Duane Reade Pharmacy
750 New York Ave Brooklyn 11203
(718) 941-8694

Duane Reade Pharmacy
724 Flatbush Ave Brooklyn 11226
(718) 284-4221

Sheepshead Bay
Duane Reade Pharmacy
3090 Ocean Avenue Brooklyn 11235
(718) 368-4291

Walgreens Drug Store
2590 Coney Island Avenue Brooklyn 11223
(800) 358-9950

Walgreens Drug Store
3082 Avenue U Brooklyn 11229
(800) 358-9950

Rite Aid Pharmacy
2981 Ocean Avenue Brooklyn 11235
(718) 332-1001

Rite Aid Pharmacy
2002 Avenue U Brooklyn 11229
(718) 769-2058

Duane Reade Pharmacy
1401-1405 Avenue U Brooklyn 11229
(718) 787-1665

Duane Read Pharmacy
2931 Avenue U Brooklyn 11229
(718) 648-8308

Sunset Park
Duane Reade Pharmacy
5008 5th Avenue Brooklyn 11220
(718) 439-0614

Sunset Park
Rite Aid Pharmacy
6201 4th Avenue Brooklyn 11220
(718) 567-9476

Rite Aid Pharmacy
5224 5th Avenue Brooklyn 11220
(718) 765-1833

Williamsburg
Duane Reade Pharmacy
164 Kent Avenue Brooklyn 11249
(718) 302-1549

Walgreens Drug Store
210-232 Union Ave Brooklyn 11211
(800) 358-9950

Did we miss a Brooklyn clinic that offers flu shots? Let us know in the comments and we’ll add it.

[Source: NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene | Photo: Christopher Bride for PropertyShark]

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