Dear Friend --

As flu season begins, the City of Long Beach is offering free flu vaccinations, with no appointment necessary. There's even a drive-thru option available so you can get your shot without even leaving your car.

It's recommended that everyone older than six months old get a flu shot. Anyone 12 years and older can receive the vaccine in a drive-thru; families with children younger than 12 years old will be directed to the walk-up area.

This season’s flu vaccination clinics are:

• Thursday, Oct. 3, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Health Department (2525 Grand Ave.)
• Monday, Oct. 7, 9 a.m. to noon, Scherer Park (4600 Long Beach Blvd.)
• Thursday, Oct. 10, 9 a.m. to noon, Long Beach Senior Center (1150 E. 4th St.)
• Friday, Oct. 11, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., El Dorado Teen Center (2800 N. Studebaker Rd.)
• Monday, Oct. 14, 9 a.m. to noon, Bixby Park (130 Cherry Ave.)
• Tuesday, Oct. 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., McBride Park (1550 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave.)
• Thursday, Oct. 17, noon to 4 p.m., Ramona Park (3301 E. 65th St.)
• Monday, Oct. 21, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., California State University, Long Beach, next to campus bookstore (1250 Bellflower Blvd.)
• Wednesday, Oct. 23, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., MacArthur Park (1321 Anaheim St.)
• Tuesday, Oct. 29, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., California State University, Long Beach, next to campus bookstore (1250 Bellflower Blvd.)
• Thursday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., California State University, Long Beach, next to campus bookstore (1250 Bellflower Blvd.)
• Friday, Nov. 8, 9 a.m. to noon, Veterans Park (101 E. 28th St.)
• Monday, Nov. 11, 9 a.m. to noon, Drake Park (951 Maine Ave.)
• Thursday, Dec. 5, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Health Department (2525 Grand Ave.)

For more information about the 2019-2020 flu season, the community is encouraged to visit: http://www.longbeach.gov/flu.

Our thanks to the California Department of Public Health for funding these clinics.

I want to encourage everyone who is able to get their flu shot this and every season. For most healthy adults, a case of the flu is very unpleasant but not life-threatening, and many people may prefer risking the flu over getting the shot. But the reality is, many people in our community - and particularly those most vulnerable to the flu and other illnesses - are not able to get vaccinated and rely on the rest of the community to help protect them from what can actually be a very serious condition and even lead to death.

Let's all be heroes and take this simple step to help our friends and neighbors stay healthy all year.

Go Long Beach!

Mayor Robert Garcia