Akron Children’s makes flu shots readily available throughout the region

Akron Children’s Hospital is making flu shots available in a variety of settings and formats to make it convenient for children to get protected during the upcoming influenza season. Some settings allow for the whole family to get vaccinated together.

According to Dr. Eric Robinette, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Akron Children’s, each year’s vaccine is based on flu surveillance data from the southern and northern hemispheres and tropical climates where the flu circulates year-round.

“Some years you’re going to have a really good match and some years are going to have a less good match, but, on average, over time, you’re going to be substantially more protected from serious flu complications by getting the shot,” said Dr. Robinette.

Dr. Robinette said late September to early November is the ideal time to get your flu shot, and it’s safe to get it at the same time as your COVID-19 vaccine or booster.

Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics

Flu shots are available for the whole family (kids ages 6 months and older) on Sundays at these four locations between 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Appointments can be scheduled here.

Oct. 9 - Boston Heights Health Center, 328 E. Hines Hill Road.

Oct. 16 - Mahoning Valley Campus, 6505 Market St.

Oct. 23 - North Canton Health Center, 6076 Whipple Ave. NW

Oct. 30 - Portage Health Center, 2497 St. Rt. 59

Pop-up Flu Shot Clinics Pop-up clinics will be held on the Akron campus through Sept. 30 to vaccinate whole families (kids 6 months and older) with no appointment necessary.

The clinics will be held Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., near the Welcome Center, third floor of the Considine Professional Building, 215 W. Bowery St.

Pediatric Primary Care Most offices of Akron Children’s Hospital Pediatrics offer flu shot appointments daily. There will also be flu shot clinics at various offices starting in October. Established patients can schedule appointments through Mychart, and new patients or those without Mychart can use open scheduling. The primary care clinics are listed at akronchildrens. org/flu.

North Hill Clinic

The Locust Pediatric Care Group is planning a flu clinic especially for its families who live in Akron’s North Hill neighborhood. The clinic will be held Oct. 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Blessed Trinity Church, 300 E. Tallmadge Ave. The clinic is for children 6 months and older. Appointments are required. Call the Locust office at 330-5438530, option 3.

Urgent Care

Akron Children’s Urgent Care locations will be offering flu shots on Tuesdays and Thursdays by appointment. Urgent Care Centers are located in Boston Heights, Mansfield, Montrose and Warren. Watch for dates through open scheduling here.

School Health

Akron Children’s partners with Health Heroes to offer flu shots to students in schools affiliated with the hospital’s School Health Services. While the flu shots are free to students with signed permission from a parent, Medicaid and private insurance plans will be billed.

Bristol Local Schools, Sept. 14

Cuyahoga Falls City Schools, Sept. 19 & 20

Copley-fairlawn City Schools, Oct 4 & 5

Triway Local Schools, Oct. 6

Woodridge Local Schools, Oct. 7

Rootstown Local Schools, Oct. 11

Nordonia Hills City Schools, Oct. 18

Field Local Schools, Oct. 24

Ravenna City Schools, Oct. 25

Coventry Local Schools, Nov. 17

Additional schools are being scheduled.

Flu shot website Updated information about flu shot availability at these various locations can be found at: akronchildrens.org/ flu.