Last flu season was a tough one nationwide. By late December, flu-like symptoms accounted for eight percent of doctor visits, the highest share the government has recorded since it started tracking the number in 1997, and hospitalizations passed 120,000 by that same point in the season. That surge is part of why this year’s flu vaccine looks different.
Each year, the Food and Drug Administration decides which flu strains go into that season’s vaccine based on what is spreading worldwide. This year it swapped out all three, mainly to target a mutated version of a common flu strain, nicknamed subclade K, that spread widely last winter.
The update also arrived without fresh federal backing. CDC’s own guidance page says that, because of ‘legal uncertainties and inquiries,’ the seasonal flu recommendations from July 2025 remain in effect rather than being updated for 2026-2027. Four medical groups, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Infectious Diseases Society of America, stepped in and published their own joint recommendations instead.
The basic advice has not changed: get vaccinated in early fall, before flu activity climbs in December. Montclair has no shortage of places to get a flu shot this season.
Where can I get a free flu shot in Montclair?
The Montclair Health Department runs a general immunization clinic on the first and third Tuesday of every month, from 9 a.m. to noon, on the third floor of the Montclair Health Department at 205 Claremont Ave. It splits into two tracks: an adolescent clinic for ages 11 to 18 and an adult clinic for anyone 19 and older.
The department’s own listing does not spell out whether flu shots are part of a given month’s session. The page describes general vaccine availability rather than flu specifically, so calling ahead is the safest move before making the trip. The next sessions fall on September 15, October 6, October 20, November 3 and November 17, and a public health nurse at 973-509-4970 can confirm what is on offer and what it costs.
Uninsured residents are welcomed. Montclair takes part in two federal programs built for them: the Vaccines for Children program, which covers kids without insurance, and the Adult 317 program, its adult counterpart.
Which Montclair pharmacies offer flu shots?
CVS remains the default for a reason: two locations inside town limits, extended hours and a scheduling app that skips the line. The Claremont Avenue store, at 49 Claremont Ave., and the Valley Road location in Upper Montclair, at 565 Valley Road, both give flu shots on a walk-in or appointment basis. Both also carry Flublok, a vaccine grown in insect cells rather than chicken eggs, which makes it a safer option for people with severe egg allergies.
Independent pharmacies round out the list. Grove Pharmacy, at 123 Grove St., has been a family-run fixture in town for more than 90 years, and its pharmacists give flu shots along with shingles, pneumonia and hepatitis B vaccines. Serket Pharmacy, at 8 Church St., gives flu shots without an appointment to anyone age three and older, in a private vaccination room set apart from the retail floor.
How much does a flu shot cost in Montclair?
For most people with insurance, a flu shot costs nothing. Coverage is required at no charge under Medicare Part B, the portion of Medicare that pays for outpatient care like vaccines, and under nearly every private insurance plan.
Without insurance, the price moves. CVS lists 2025-2026 season cash prices between $68.99 and $128.99 for a standard seasonal shot, with the high-dose senior vaccine priced at $128.99. A federal push like U.S. Sen. Andy Kim’s MediKids Act could extend that kind of coverage further for New Jersey kids, though the bill has not passed.
What flu shot should Montclair seniors and kids get?
Immune response weakens with age, and a standard flu shot does not always keep pace. That is why the CDC recommends a high-dose or adjuvanted vaccine for anyone 65 and older. A high-dose shot packs four times the antigen, the ingredient that trains the immune system to recognize the virus, while an adjuvanted vaccine adds a separate ingredient to boost that same response. Both exist because an older immune system needs a stronger nudge to react.
CVS carries Flublok, the egg-free option described above, at both Montclair locations, though availability can shift week to week as flu season goes on. Anyone booking for a parent or grandparent should ask specifically for the high-dose or adjuvanted formula.
Kids need attention paid to timing more than formula. Children ages 6 months through 8 years might need two doses instead of one, spaced at least four weeks apart, unless they have already had two flu shots in past seasons. Parents who are not sure of a child’s vaccine history should ask the provider to check, since starting early, even in August, leaves enough time to finish the second dose by the end of October. CVS pediatric flu shot availability varies by location, so calling ahead is worth it before bringing a child in. Serket Pharmacy gives flu shots to anyone age three and older.
Bring an insurance card even when planning to pay out of pocket. Soreness and mild fatigue are the most common side effects, and they are usually gone within a day. The shot itself takes about 15 minutes at either CVS location.
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