Weekend hours for urgent visits and newborn appointments only.
2025-2026 Influenza Vaccine is still available!
Massachusetts Department of Public Health has issued an advisory related to the rising number of influenza cases.
Influenza, also called flu, is a disease caused by infection of the respiratory tract with influenza viruses. Influenza viruses typically circulate annually in the United States from the late fall through the early spring and cause seasonal epidemics of influenza disease. Typical symptoms of influenza are abrupt onset of fever, cough, runny nose, headache, malaise and muscle aches. While most people with influenza will recover without serious issues, for some people, influenza causes serious illness, hospitalization, or death. Older adults, very young children, pregnant people, and people of all ages with certain chronic medical conditions are particularly susceptible to severe influenza. Influenza is an important cause of missed work and school.
Currently, in Massachusetts and across the nation, numbers of influenza cases are very high. Thousands of Massachusetts residents have become ill, leading to missed work, school, and other activities. Additionally, many residents have experienced serious influenza illness, unfortunately leading to visits to urgent care centers and emergency departments, inpatient hospitalizations and deaths. Deaths due to influenza occur every year and as of January 8, 2026, four pediatric deaths have been reported already this year in Massachusetts. Information about viral respiratory illness activity, including influenza, in Massachusetts is available and updated weekly on the Department of Public Health’s website.
Annual influenza vaccination is the most important public health measure for preventing illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths caused by influenza virus infection. The most recent 2024-2025 influenza season was classified as “high severity,” with the highest cumulative hospitalization rate since 2010-2011. However, early CDC estimates suggest that the influenza vaccine may have significantly reduced influenza disease burden, preventing an estimated 240,000 hospitalizations, 12 million influenza illnesses and 5.7 million influenza-related medical visits.
If you or your child has not yet received the flu vaccine, call your primary care provider to schedule a visit.
Effective April 1, 2024, Massachusetts law requires insurance carriers to provide a yearly annual mental health wellness exam. The mental health wellness exam is defined as consisting of a screen or assessment that seeks to identify any behavioral, developmental, or mental health needs and appropriate resources for treatment.
The exam may be provided by the primary care provider as part of an annual preventive visit or as a standalone visit. For details on the mental health law and wellness exam components, please refer to the Massachusetts Division of Insurance Bulletin 2024-02.
For most plans, the mental health wellness exam is covered with no out-of-pocket costs for members when performed by a network licensed mental health professional or primary care provider. If you have questions regarding coverage, please contact your insurance carrier.