image description — For the 2017-2018 season, the CDC recommends use of the flu shot (inactivated influenza vaccine or IIV) or the recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV). (Photo courtesy CDC)

Health Alliance Offering Flu Vaccinations

03:37PM / Wednesday, September 20, 2017Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Public Health Alliance will offer flu vaccination clinics with no out-of-pocket charges around the county over the next month.

People should bring their insurance card(s) with them and wear short sleeves, or a shirt that has easily rolled-up sleeves.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends getting an annual flu vaccine as the first and best way to protect yourself and your family from the flu. Flu vaccination can reduce flu illnesses, doctors' visits, and missed work and school due to flu, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations. In 2017, a study in Pediatrics was the first of its kind to show that flu vaccination also significantly reduced a child's risk of dying from influenza. The more people who get vaccinated, the more people will be protected from flu, including older people, very young children, pregnant women, and people with certain long-term health conditions who are more vulnerable to serious flu complications.

The Berkshire Public Health Alliance (Alliance) is a partnership formed through an inter-municipal agreement (IMA) among the 24 Berkshire municipalities of Adams, Alford, Becket, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Dalton, Egremont, Florida, Great Barrington, Hancock, Lanesborough, Mount Washington, New Marlborough, North Adams, Peru, Pittsfield, Richmond, Sandisfield, Savoy, Sheffield, Washington, West Stockbridge, Williamstown, Windsor and Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. Learn more on the website.

The clinics are as follows:

Monday, Sept. 25, 3:30-6:30 p.m.: Craneville Elementary School, 71 Park Ave., Dalton

Tuesday, Sept. 26, 9-11:30 a.m.: Egremont Town Hall, 171 Egremont Plain Road, Egremont

Monday, Oct. 2, 1-3 p.m.: Cheshire Senior Center/Cheshire Community Center, 119 School St., Cheshire

Monday, Oct. 2, 5-7 p.m.: Windsor Town Hall, 1927 Route 9, Windsor

Wednesday, Oct. 4, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.: Clarksburg Elementary School, 777 West Cross Road, Clarksburg

Wednesday, Oct. 10, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.: City Hall, 10 Main St., North Adams

Wednesday, Oct. 11, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Housatonic Community Center (Housydome), 1064 Main St. North, Housatonic

Wednesday, Oct. 11, 4:30-6:30 p.m.: Great Barrington Town Hall, 334 Main St., Great Barrington

Friday, Oct. 13, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Dalton Senior Center 40 Field St. Ext., Dalton

Monday, Oct. 16, 5-7 p.m.: Town Hall, 8 Summit Hill Road, Washington

Tuesday, Oct. 17, 3:30-6 p.m.: Greylock Elementary School, 100 Phelps Ave., North Adams

Wednesday, Oct. 18, 9:30-11 a.m.: Mary Spitzer Senior Center, 116 Ashland St., North Adams

Wednesday, Oct. 18, 3:30-6 p.m.: Drury High School, 1130 Church St., North Adams

Monday, Oct. 23, 4-6 p.m.: Peru Town Hall Community Room, 3 East Main Road, Peru

Saturday, Oct. 28, 9 a.m.-noon: Berkshire South CHP Coat Drive, 15 Crissey Road, Great Barrington.

Tags: flu, influenza,

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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

12:05PM / Wednesday, December 24, 2025

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.

This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.

The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.

DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.

"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths.

"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."

Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.

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