KEENE, NH – Flu season has arrived, and Cheshire Medical Center is hosting a series of flu vaccine clinics for established patients.

Patients are now able to login to their MyDH profile and schedule an appointment at any of the three drive-through clinics on the schedule on October 7th, October 21st, or November 4th at the hospital’s main campus at 580 Court Street in Keene. Appointments are required and can also be scheduled by calling your primary care provider’s office.

Walpole and Winchester Family Medicine patients can either register for a drive through appointment at the main campus, or for the Walpole flu clinics on October 24th or November 9th, or Winchester on October 26th.

Both the regular flu vaccines, recommended for patients 6 months and older, and the high-dose flu vaccines for those age 65 and older will be available at the clinics.

Dr. Aalok Khole, an infectious disease specialist at Cheshire Medical Center told WKBK on Friday anytime now is a good time to get the flu shot, as some folks worry about getting it too early.

An uptick in COVID-19 cases is expected as well, but Khole said symptoms have gotten less severe as the virus continues to mutate, and mimic those of the flu. He also noted that the 2020 landmark symptom of loss of taste and smell does not appear to be present anymore in most cases.

Once they become available, those looking to get an updated COVID-19 vaccine and a flu shot can do so at the same time, Khole said, along with the RSV vaccine if your doctor determines you’re eligible.

Other ways to get a flu shot locally include Cheshire Medical Center Retail Pharmacy, your primary care provider’s office, pediatrics primary care provider appointments, specialty medicine appointments, Nurse clinic, and local pharmacies.

For further information on the vaccines, flu symptoms, and the clinics visit Cheshiremed.org/flu.