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Why The Flu Shot Is Important — And Where To Get One In East-Central Illinois

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  • Photo: flickr/NIAID/CC BY 2.0

URBANA – Public health officials say mask-wearing, social distancing — and getting an influenza vaccine — are things everyone can do to prevent hospitals from getting overwhelmed this flu season. 

Officials are asking Americans to get the flu shot to help avoid a “twindemic” caused by a combination of COVID-19 and the seasonal flu.

Linda Fred, director of pharmacy at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, says getting the flu vaccine is a simple way to protect yourself and those at greatest risk.

“You may feel like you are in a fairly safe situation [and] not at great risk,” Fred says, “but we have to think about the children, our grandparents,” and those with compromised immune systems.

Preliminary estimates from the CDC show influenza claimed 22,000 lives last year, including 189 children. Flu vaccines are believed to have prevented 105,000 hospitalizations and 6,300 deaths last year.

“We already have some concerns about hospital capacity in various parts of the country — and the exacerbation of the situation by having the pandemic and then seasonal flu at the same time,” Fred says. “[It] might push hospital capacity, in some places, over the edge.”

She says many places, including Carle, offer drive-through clinics and are taking additional measures to keep people safe as they come in for the flu vaccine. 

Many hospitals and clinics throughout east-central Illinois are offering influenza vaccines. Fred says retail pharmacies are also stocked and ready to administer the shots.

Here is a list of places offering flu shots in east-central Illinois:

Champaign County

Champaign

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District: Appointment only. For same day appointments, call 217-531-5365 or 217-531-4307. For other appointments, call 217-531-5316 or 217-531-5317. Appointments can be scheduled for curbside or inside service.

  • Thursdays, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
    • 201 W. Kenyon Rd, Champaign, IL, 61820

Walgreens Valid insurance card and photo I.D. required. All flu shots available while the pharmacy is open. Hours reflect open pharmacy times.

  • Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Target Champaign Valid insurance card required. Free with most insurance. Appointments recommended but walk-ins welcome.

  • Monday–Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m; Saturdays 12–5 p.m; Sundays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    • 2102 N. Prospect Ave. Champaign, IL, 61822

CVS Valid insurance card required. Free with most insurance. Appointments recommended but walk-ins welcome.

  • Monday–Fridays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m; Sundays, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Monday–Fridays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m; Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
  • Monday–Fridays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m; Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

OSF Appointment locations.

  • Daily: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
    • 2718 N Prospect Ave, Champaign, IL 61822
    • 2043 S Neil St, Champaign, IL 61820

Urbana

McKinley Health Center For eligible University of Illinois students, state employees and retirees.

  • Monday, Nov. 9 through Friday, Nov. 20, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    • Campus Recreation Center East — 1102 W. Gregory Dr. Urbana, IL, 61801

Walgreens Valid insurance card and photo I.D. required. All flu shots available while the pharmacy is open. Hours reflect open pharmacy times.

  • Monday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  • Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Schnucks

  • Monday–Fridays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m; Sundays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    •  200 N. Vine St. Urbana, IL, 61801

CVS Valid insurance card required. Free with most insurance. Appointments recommended but walk-ins welcome.

  • Monday–Fridays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m; Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

OSF Walk-in location.

  • Daily: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
    • 520 N Cunningham Ave, Urbana, IL 61802

Savoy

CVS Valid insurance card required. Free with most insurance. Appointments recommended but walk-ins welcome.

  • Monday–Fridays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m; Sundays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Monday–Fridays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m; Sundays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Rantoul

CVS Valid insurance card required. Free with most insurance. Appointments recommended but walk-ins welcome.

  • Monday–Fridays, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m; Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Hap Parker Family Aquatic Center Valid insurance card required. Stay in your vehicle.

  • Thursday, Nov. 12, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
    •  320 W. Flessner Ave. Rantoul, IL 61866

Walgreens Valid insurance card and photo I.D. required. All flu shots available while the pharmacy is open. Hours reflect open pharmacy times.

  • Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Mahomet

Walgreens Valid insurance card and photo I.D. required. All flu shots available while the pharmacy is open. Hours reflect open pharmacy times.

  • Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Macon County

Decatur

Walgreens Valid insurance card and photo I.D. required. All flu shots available while the pharmacy is open. Hours reflect open pharmacy times.

  • Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Monday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Vermilion County 

Danville

OSF Walk-in locations.

  • Daily: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
    • 707 N Logan Ave, Danville, IL 61832
    • 3653 N Vermilion St, Danville, IL 61832

CVS Valid insurance card required. Free with most insurance. Appointments recommended but walk-ins welcome.

  • Monday–Fridays, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m; Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Vermilion County Health Department  Limited flu shots available. Walk-ins welcome for adults. It’s preferred parents call ahead for their children. The pay-with-cash cost for adults is $38 — most insurances can be billed.

  • Weekdays: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
    • 200 S College St Ste A, Danville, IL, 61832

Walgreens Valid insurance card and photo I.D. required. All flu shots available while the pharmacy is open. Hours reflect open pharmacy times.

  • Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Coles County

Charleston

Walgreens Valid insurance card and photo I.D. required. All flu shots available while the pharmacy is open. Hours reflect open pharmacy times.

  • Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Mattoon

Walgreens Valid insurance card and photo I.D. required. All flu shots available while the pharmacy is open. Hours reflect open pharmacy times.

  • Monday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

NOTE: To share information that can be added to this list, please send an email to willnewsroom@illinois.edu.

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