Adult Influenza Vaccine Initiative

The severity of Influenza (flu) during a season is unpredictable. Vaccination each year is the best way to reduce the risk of getting the flu and spreading it to others. Your immunization not only protects you but your family and friends as well.

The Adult Flu Vaccine Initiative was created to provide an allocation of flu vaccine for adults aged 19 years and older who do not have insurance. Refer to the list of healthcare facilities to find a location near you to get vaccinated. Other Influenza resources are also available below.

Adult Influenza

For adult influenza recommendations, click below:

Adult Influenza Recommendations

For influenza information specific for people 65 years and older, click below:

Influenza for 65 Years and Older

Children Birth to 18 Years

Flu vaccines, in addition to all ACIP recommended vaccines, are always available for low or no cost through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program. For more information, click below:

VFC Providers

Vaccine Finder

If you have insurance and want to find the most convenient location to get you and your family vaccinated, click below:

Go to Vaccine Finder

Participating healthcare providers by Health District

Midtown CHC-South Salt Lake (FQHC) (801) 486-0911
Salt Lake County Health Department-Ellis R Shipp (385) 468-4024
Salt Lake County Health Department-Salt Lake (385) 468-4100
Salt Lake County Health Department-South Redwood (801) 518-1012
Salt Lake County Health Department-South Main (385) 258-0036
Salt Lake County Health Department-Southeast (385) 468-4100
WHHP 4th Street CHC Clinic (FQHC) (801) 364-0058

Frequently Asked Questions

Flu viruses can change from year to year, so the vaccine is updated to protect against new virus strains that are expected to circulate in the United States. The vaccine needs to include influenza virus strains that most closely match those in circulation for the influenza season. In addition, the protection provided by the flu vaccine a person received in the previous year will diminish over time and may be too low to prevent influenza disease into next year’s flu season.

Each February, before that year’s flu season ends, the FDA, the World Health Organization (WHO), the CDC, and other public health experts collaborate on collecting and reviewing data from around the world to identify the flu viruses likely to cause the most illnesses during the next flu season.

Following that process, the FDA convenes its vaccines advisory committee, consisting of outside experts, to provide advice to the FDA on the upcoming U.S. influenza season. Committee members discuss the WHO recommendations and consider which flu viruses are expected to circulate in the United States. They also review data about which flu viruses have caused illnesses in the past year, how the viruses are changing, and disease trends for the United States. The FDA takes that information into account before it selects the virus strains for FDA-licensed manufacturers to include in their vaccines for use in the United States.

The closer the match between the virus strains chosen for the vaccine and the circulating strains causing disease during flu season, the better the protection that the flu vaccine provides. Although the vaccine and viruses may not be an exact match in some years that does not mean the vaccine is not benefiting people. We know from past studies that the vaccine can still provide enough protection in people who received it to help make their illness milder or prevent flu-related complications.

To ensure that the flu vaccine is safe, effective, and of high quality, the FDA prepares and provides reagents (materials to standardize vaccines) to manufacturers that they need to make their vaccine and to verify its identity and potency. The FDA also inspects manufacturing facilities regularly and evaluates each manufacturer’s vaccine annually before it can be approved. After manufacturers have distributed their vaccines for use by the public, the FDA and CDC scientists work together to routinely evaluate reports submitted by companies, health care providers, parents, and patients to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) of health problems that may be associated with a vaccine.

For more information, visit the following links:

Misconceptions about Seasonal Flu and Flu Vaccines

It’s a Good Time to Get Your Flu Vaccine

Frequently Asked Influenza (Flu) Questions: 2020-2021 Season (CDC)