Flu resources

The flu (influenza) is a very contagious virus. It causes high fever, body aches, cough and other symptoms. Most children who get the flu can recover at home. However, some children, especially those with underlying medical conditions, can get very sick from the flu, develop complications and need to be hospitalized.

The most important step you can take to stay healthy this flu season is to make sure everyone in your family (6 months and older) gets the flu shot. Watch this video and get answers to more questions below on how to best protect your family against the flu.

Where can I get a flu shot?

If you have an upcoming appointment with a health care provider, ask about getting your flu shot during your appointment. The list below can also help you find a flu vaccine near you.

Find a flu vaccine near you

• Ask your primary care provider or pediatrician’s office if they are offering the flu vaccine. If you’re looking for a pediatrician for your child, visit Children's Health℠ Primary Care.

• Search for flu vaccine locations at Vaccines.gov. Most pharmacies offer flu vaccines for adults and children. You can make convenient appointments online, but you may want to call or stop by first to find out:

  • Cost of the flu vaccine. Flu vaccines are typically 100% covered by private insurance.

  • Your ability to make group appointments. Many pharmacies allow you to make appointments for multiple family members at the same time.

  • Age requirements. Pharmacies can only give flu shots to children who are 3 or older.

  • Nasal flu vaccine availability. This can be a great alternative for children who have a hard time with shots.

• These pharmacies can also provide more information and help you make a convenient online appointment:

  • CVS

  • Kroger

  • Walgreens

  • Walmart

• North Texas City and County Public Health Clinics:If you have Medicaid, CHIP or don't have health insurance, public health clinics can be a great option for flu vaccines.

  • Collin County

  • Dallas County

  • Denton County

  • City of Garland

  • Tarrant County

• Other flu vaccine locations in Texas:Many of these locations offer free or discounted flu vaccines, accept many types of insurance, have walk-in appointments and extended hours, and can vaccinate all children 6 months and older. However, we recommend calling to confirm pricing and scheduling options ahead of time.

  • Find a community health center near you

  • BlueCross BlueShield of Texas Care Van Flu Events

  • Parkland Health Centers

  • CareNow Urgent Care

  • MD Kids Pediatrics

  • Health Services of North Texas

  • Foremost Family Health Centers

Flu vaccines for Children's Health patients

The health and well-being of our patients and their families is our priority. That’s why we recommend that everyone (6 months and older) get a flu vaccine every year. Getting vaccinated is especially important to protect children with chronic health conditions who are at higher risk for serious flu complications.

If you have an upcoming appointment at Children’s Health, ask your provider about getting your flu shot during your appointment. Children’s Health offers flu vaccines to patients in select clinics. If your child gets a flu shot somewhere else, please let our care team know. One easy way to do that is to register to use a free, online vaccination record keeper called the ImmTrac2 vaccination registry.

What is ImmTrac2?

ImmTrac2 is the Texas state vaccination registry. This convenient system stores immunization records from multiple databases in one secure, centralized, online system – so you don’t have to. To use this registry, you must first give your permission to participate. Only authorized organizations such as hospital systems can access the registry. Children’s Health pulls vaccine data from ImmTrac2. This information helps us understand how to better serve families during flu season.

Flu vaccine FAQs