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Last reviewed 9/5/2025

Flu season is here! Protect yourself and those around you by getting a flu shot.

Why get a flu shot?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a flu shot for most adults and children (age 6 months+). It reduces the risk of infection, hospitalization and death, as well as the risk of spreading this potentially deadly virus to others.

It takes about two weeks for antibodies in the vaccine to develop in the body. The sooner you're vaccinated, the sooner you're protected.

See more facts about the flu, including why flu shots are so important, whether you're healthy or at high risk.

CDC recommendation: Children 6 months to 8 years old who have never had a flu shot should get two shots, at least four weeks apart.

Where and how to get a flu shot

Our UCSF Health primary care clinics (adult and pediatric), pediatric specialty clinics in San Francisco, and pharmacies have flu shots available. Details below.

UCSF Health primary care clinics

San Francisco primary care (adult and pediatric)

  • Schedule via MyChart, schedule with our online tool (no MyChart account required), or call your clinic. Online and MyChart scheduling are not available at all adult and primary care clinics. Contact your clinic directly if you do not see a self-scheduling option.

East Bay primary care (pediatric only)

  • Schedule via MyChart or call your clinic.

UCSF Health specialty care clinics

San Francisco specialty care (pediatric)

  • We've reserved a flu shot for your child. Ask for the vaccine at their next appointment.

UCSF Health pharmacies

Flu shot appointments for adults and kids (age 12+) are available at our two pharmacies in San Francisco: UCSF Health Pharmacy Parnassus (Millberry Union Building) and UCSF Health Pharmacy Mission Bay (Bayfront Medical Building).

  • Schedule via MyChart, call the pharmacy, or walk in.

Visit your local pharmacy

Flu shots are also available for adults and kids (age 3+) at drugstore pharmacies near you. Most of these allow you to schedule an appointment online. Many take walk-ins, too, if they're not too busy.

Your immunization history

Update us! UCSF keeps track of your immunization history. And immunizations (such as the flu shot) provided by UCSF Health are automatically entered in your medical record. If you or your child is immunized at a non-UCSF medical provider or pharmacy, simply let us know the date of that visit so we can add it to the appropriate medical record.