Instead of going to my regular Advocate doctor this year, I decided to do something different: I booked my flu shot and COVID booster through the Chicago Department of Public Health. With a quick online appointment at the Uptown community health center on Wilson Avenue near Sheridan Road, I wanted to see how easy it really was. Spoiler alert: it was one of the most painless and convenient healthcare errands I’ve ever done.

When I walked into the building, I signed in at the front desk. A kind nurse came out right away, confirmed my information, and invited me into her office. It wasn’t a sterile white medical room—it was decked out in Chicago kitsch, with the flag and city pride everywhere. It felt personal and welcoming, like this was care rooted in the community. Within minutes, I had rolled up my sleeve and gotten both the flu shot and COVID booster.

Here’s the best part: through CDPH, I got both shots for free. No billing, no insurance runaround, no co-pay surprises. Just straightforward public health in action. I sat in the waiting room for the standard 15-minute observation period to make sure I didn’t have a bad reaction, and before I knew it, I was back in my car just 30 minutes after arriving.

As someone who has worked in healthcare for 20 years—and who was honored as a Crain’s Chicago Business Healthcare Hero in 2020—I can say with confidence that this is one of the smartest things you can do for yourself and the people around you. Vaccination saves lives. The flu is still one of the top causes of death among seniors. Immunocompromised people count on the rest of us to reduce transmission. And let’s not forget the reality of the holidays: we’re all about to be surrounded by children with sticky fingers and coughs, relatives with underlying conditions, and crowded gatherings that make it easy for viruses to spread.

Busting the myths about vaccines

“The flu shot gives you the flu.”It doesn’t. The flu vaccine is made from either inactivated virus (dead) or a single protein from the flu virus. Neither can cause the illness. If you feel tired or achy afterward, that’s your immune system revving up its defenses.

“I’m healthy, so I don’t need it.”Even if you recover quickly, you can spread flu or COVID to someone who won’t. Vaccination is an act of protection for your grandparents, your neighbor with cancer, or the coworker with asthma.

“Natural immunity is better.”Not when it means risking hospitalization, long-term complications, or death. Vaccines give your body a safe practice run, not a life-threatening battle.

“I got vaccinated before and still got sick—so it doesn’t work.”Vaccines aren’t magic shields. But they make illness much less severe and drastically lower your risk of hospitalization and death.

“I don’t have time.”My whole visit—from walking in to walking out—took 30 minutes. Less time than picking up groceries or standing in line for coffee.

Why it matters

Flu and COVID are still here, and they still take lives. Seniors remain at high risk. Immunocompromised people depend on us to keep spread low. And as we head into a season of family gatherings, crowded airports, and holiday parties, vaccines are our best defense.

If you live in Chicago, CDPH makes this easy—and free. If you’re outside Chicago, look for community health clinics near you. Many offer flu and COVID shots at no cost. And if they don’t? Call your local leaders—your village trustees, city council members, or alderpeople—and demand it. Public health should be accessible to everyone, not just those who can pay or who happen to live in a major city.

So don’t wait. Make an appointment, roll up your sleeve, and take 30 minutes to protect yourself and the people around you. It’s one of the smartest—and kindest—choices you can make this season.

Get full access to Not Quite Communist by Gerald Farinas at gerfarinas.substack.com/subscribe