Vaccines are often the most effective way to prevent serious illness and to save lives.
- All children and young adults should receive all of the recommended vaccines according to the schedule published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
- Vaccinating children and young adults may be the single most important health-promoting intervention we perform as healthcare providers, and that you can perform as parents/caregivers.
Scroll down for recommended vaccine schedules.
*If you have questions or concerns about any immunizations for yourself, your child, or your family, please ask your LCHC care team and doctor! We are here to answer questions and help talk through any concerns to help you make the best decisions for yourself and your family.
2024 – 2025 Respiratory Virus Season
Each year, vaccines for flu, COVID-19, and RSV help protect you, your family, and the community from serious illness during the fall and winter virus season. Stay healthy—get vaccinated today!
- The flu vaccine available on our primary care for everyone 6 months and older.
- The COVID-19 and pediatric RSV (Nirsevimab) vaccines are also available.
- Adult RSV (Abrysvo) for persons 60+ is available at our LCHC pharmacy.
- RSV (Abrysvo) for eligible pregnant patients is available in our OB team.
Saturday Flu & COVID-19 Clinics
- Saturday vaccine clinics will start on Saturday, October 5th. There will be no clinic on Saturday, October 12th.
- You do not have to be a patient of LCHC. The flu vaccine is for everyone 6 months and older.
- We will collect health insurance if you have one. If you do not have health insurance, you can still receive the flu and COVID vaccines at no charge.
Seasonal Viruses are Common, but We can Help
Respiratory illnesses, like the flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), COVID-19, and common colds can spread in communities. These illnesses are most common during the fall and winter. Many of these illnesses have similar symptoms: runny nose, cough, sore throat, fever, and more. This page is meant to answer questions about how to prevent and manage symptoms associated with these illnesses.
Symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment
What symptoms are common from respiratory illness?
Common respiratory illness symptoms include:
- Cough
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Runny nose
- Shortness of breath
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Muscle pain or body aches
I have symptoms of a respiratory illness. How can I know which illness I have?
If you have the symptoms listed above, you can take a COVID-19 test at home. If you test negative, you may have another respiratory illness. Generally, it is not necessary to test for the flu or RSV, especially if symptoms are mild and you are not at higher risk of getting very sick from these illnesses.
What should I do if I have symptoms?
Mild symptoms: Stay home
Mild symptoms include a temperature below 100 degrees (below 102.4 degrees for children older than three months), aches and pains, or a mild cough. Rest, drink plenty of fluids, and monitor your symptoms. Hopefully, you will start to feel better in a few days.
Moderate symptoms: Call your Primary Care Office
If you have moderate symptoms like a fever higher than 100.4 degrees, significant coughing, or shortness of breath, contact your primary care provider’s office.
For children ages 3 months and older who are not immunocompromised, a high fever is greater than 102.4 degrees. If your child has a fever, significant coughing, or shortness of breath, you also should call their primary care provider’s office. You should also call if they are sleepier, if they have not gone to the bathroom in more than 10 hours (if 3 years or older) or more than 8 hours (if younger than 3 years old). Your child’s doctor can recommend next steps.
If you do not have a primary care provider or you have symptoms that need immediate attention, try our urgent care options.
Severe Symptoms: Seek Emergency Care
Go to the Emergency Department if you have severe symptoms, such as:
- Severe trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion or dizziness
- Inability to wake or stay awake
- Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone
If you cannot get to the emergency department, call 9-1-1.
What treatments are available if I get sick?
- COVID-19: If you test positive for COVID-19, treatment options are available. Learn more about these options on our website.
- Flu: Treatment options for flu are available, especially for those who are at high risk for severe flu. See the CDC website for more information.
- RSV: There are no RSV-specific treatments available.
- Common cold: There are no specific treatments available for common colds
Vaccines and prevention
How can I prevent respiratory illnesses?
You should follow the recommendations below. If you have a child, you should help your child do the following:
- Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your shirt sleeve, not your hands.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Clean frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs and mobile devices.
- If a child is in the highest of risk groups groups for flu, RSV or COVID, consider limiting time spent in crowded or shared spaces, such as day care, grocery shopping or indoor shopping areas.
- Encourage breastfeeding or breastmilk, as it will provide infants with maternal antibodies.
These prevention tips will help prevent any respiratory illness and are good practice for the entire family.
What vaccines are available to prevent respiratory illness?
Flu vaccine
- Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu shot each season.
- Flu vaccines are especially important for children younger than 5 years old (especially those younger than 2) and children of any age with certain chronic health conditions like asthma and diabetes. The flu vaccine is important for these groups because they are at higher risk for developing flu complications. See the CDC website for more information.
COVID-19 vaccine
- Everyone ages 5 years and older should get 1 dose of an updated COVID-19 vaccine.
- Children ages 6 months to 4 years may need multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccines to be up to date.
- People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may get additional doses of the updated COVID-19 vaccine.
RSV vaccine
- Adults ages 60 and older can get an RSV vaccine.
- Older adults with certain conditions may especially benefit from getting an RSV vaccine.
- Pregnant people can also get the RSV vaccine Abrysvo.
Where can I get these vaccines?
- To find a COVID or flu vaccine location near you, visit vaccines.gov.
- Usually, your primary care office at Lynn Community Health Center offices will be able to offer COVID, flu, and RSV vaccines at regularly scheduled office visits.
- You can call us with any questions or to schedule an appointment! 781-581-3900
Recommended Immunization Schedules
Newborns, Children, Pre-Teens, Teens, & Adults
Immunization Information & Resources
The below resources are from immunization.org, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. They are considered the best source of child, teen, and adult immunization information for healthcare professionals and their patients.