Hope Family Care Center opens its doors four times every month to provide free medical care to those in the area who are uninsured or underinsured. This month, it will open those doors a little wider, offering flu shots to anyone, whether insurance    or not.

The clinic, located at 270 W. Jackson St., Cicero, will administer the shots from 6 to 9 p.m. today. The shots will cost $10. The clinic will file insurance and Medicare claims. Patients without health insurance or Medicare benefits may get flu shots for a $5 donation. The shots will be available for free to those who cannot afford $5.

Appointments are not necessary, but patients are asked to call the clinic in advance so it can ensure that an ample supply of serum is available.

“Hope Family Care Center’s mission is to provide quality health care for our community, and we always welcome patients from outside of Hamilton County who may not be able to afford seeing a physician,” said Mike Jenkins, president of the center’s board. “Offering the flu shots to everyone, even those who are insured, is a way we introduce more people to our services, which recently added a monthly dental clinic.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend everyone who is at least 6 months old get the flu vaccine, particularly those who are at high risk of developing serious complications if they get sick with the flu, including those who have asthma, diabetes, and chronic lung disease and those who are pregnant or 65 and older.

For more information on flu shots, visit www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm.