UMass Memorial-Affiliated CareWell Urgent Care in Northborough to Offer Free Flu Shots

The Northborough UMass Memorial-affiliated CareWell Urgent Care center, located at 333 Southwest Cutoff, will offer free flu shots on Monday, November 16th until November 30th. The free flu shots will be offered to anyone 18 years or older on a first come, first serve basis during regular business hours.

“CareWell, in affiliation with UMass Memorial Health Care invites the public to come out and get vaccinated for free in our new Northborough location,” said CEO Shaun Ginter. “By getting a flu vaccine, you can help protect yourself from the flu, and avoid spreading it to others.”

While the vast majority of influenza cases in the U.S. are relatively mild, the most effective treatment is avoiding the flu in the first place. Everyone six months and older should get a flu vaccine before flu season begins, but it is especially important for people at high risk for complications. Pregnant women, those under 5 or older than, and those with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes and cardiovascular disease are at a higher risk for developing serious complications from influenza. Because the flu is highly contagious, it’s especially important to get vaccinated if you regularly interact with one of these at-risk groups. To learn the latest about the flu shot visit, CareWell’s blog Stay Well.

“This is just a further demonstration of the strength of our affiliation with CareWell Urgent Care and how this relationship is benefiting patients in Central Massachusetts,” said Eric Dickson, president and CEO of UMass Memorial Health Care. “We encourage everyone visiting our new center in Northborough during its grand opening to take advantage of this opportunity and would like to remind all of our patients and employees to schedule their flu shots as soon as possible with their primary care physicians.”

UMass Memorial Health Care can now refer appropriate patients to nearby CareWell centers, reducing wait times and costs for non-urgent illnesses and injuries. CareWell clinics are located in close proximity to UMass Memorial Health Care hospitals, ensuring these referrals can be made quickly and conveniently, even in an emergency. The Northborough center will be located adjacent to a new UMass Memorial primary care practice scheduled to open in a few weeks.

CareWell offers medical care from Board-certified doctors, with no referral or appointment necessary. Patients can visit CareWell centers for all non-life-threatening, but still urgent, illnesses or injuries, including colds, flu, infections, fractures, cuts, rashes and allergic reactions. Centers also offer preventative care such as flu shots, vaccinations and routine physical exams with on-site x-ray and lab capabilities.

CareWell Urgent Care centers accept most insurance plans including Medicare and Medicaid and the copay and visit fees are comparable to an office visit with your primary care doctor. If you do not have insurance, CareWell also offers affordable self-pay rates. CareWell centers are open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Patients can also make appointments online. For more information, visit http://www.carewellurgentcare.com/.