JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It’s that time of year to start thinking about flu shots, and the #FluVaxJax initiative not only encourages residents to get their flu vaccines but also offers free vaccines for those who are uninsured.
While health insurance covers 100% of the cost of a flu shot, those without insurance would have to pay $30-$55 out of pocket.
“If you’re a family of four uninsured, that’s almost $200 potentially for a flu shot,” said Dr. Sunil Joshi, the Chief Health Officer for the city of Jacksonville.
The Duval County Medical Society Foundation doesn’t want cost to be the reason you’re not protected against the flu this year.
A collaboration of the city of Jacksonville, surrounding counties, hospitals, and health insurance companies, the #FluVaxJax campaign began in 2020 to help bridge the gap, so no families go without their yearly flu vaccine because they can’t afford it.
RELATED: When and where you can get a flu vaccine
Most insurance plans cover a flu shot, but if you don’t have insurance, you can click here to request a no-cost flu vaccine voucher.
“That goes to an administrator, who will then send them a free flu vaccine voucher and the location of a pharmacy that’s relatively close by their ZIP code,” Joshi explained.
Since the #FluVaxJax initiative began, the campaign has distributed 5,700 vouchers.
REQUEST A NO-COST FLU VACCINE VOUCHER
What to know about the flu
Joshi said 7 million people get the flu every year, but flu vaccines can help prevent hospitalizations for adults and ICU admissions for children.
Joshi said that based on data reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the flu vaccine in the 2023-24 season prevented an estimated 120,000 hospitalizations from the flu.
Joshi also pointed out a concerning trend in Florida -- rates of hospitalizations from the flu have increased 80% over the last three years.
| Year | Flu hospitalizations (per 100,000) | Flu deaths (per 100,000) |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-2023 | 171.6 | 9.3 |
| 2023-2024 | 264 | 12.3 |
| 2024-2025 | 309.9 | 11.9 |
Once you get the vaccine, it takes 10 to 14 days to increase immunity, which will last for about 6 months -- through the flu season.
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Joshi said he and other medical professionals have to navigate things like the state of Florida potentially eliminating vaccine mandates and the misinformation that can arise from that.
“I think the most important thing for us to do is continue to educate people on the effectiveness and safety of these vaccines, in particular the flu shot, which has been around since the 1940s,” Joshi said.
Yes, you can still get the flu if you are vaccinated.
However, Joshi said, the vaccine is worth it because it can lessen the severity of your symptoms and can reduce your risk of being hospitalized -- or worse.