Flu shots are vaccines containing some of the inactive virus that help prevent flu symptoms. The shot is normally injected into the arm and should be taken every year by people 6 months old and up.http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/fluvaccine.htm

There are two different types of flu vaccines. There is the more commonly injected type, and there is also the nasal spray form. Both of these do the same thing. They work against the flu by introducing dead strands of the virus to the body and creating antibodies that protect against the virus that was injected during the shot.http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/fluvaccine.htm

Several drug stores, grocery stores and pharmacies offer free flu shots to specific groups, including those unemployed, uninsured, children and the elderly.http://www.newsday.com/business/cvs-walgreens-to-offer-free-flu-shots-to-unemployed-1.1412424CVS and Walgreens started offering free flu shots to those unemployed and uninsured on September 1, 2009. These free flu shots protect against the common influenza bug, not swine influenza.http://www.newsday.com/business/cvs-walgreens-to-offer-free-flu-shots-to-unemployed-1.1412424

2010 marks the year in which CVS is donating 100,000 flu shots for free to people who are unemployed. If you are unemployed and are over 18 years of age, you can get a voucher at certain job training agencies such as One-Stop Career Center.http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/promoContent/promoLandingTemplate.jsp?promoLandingId=1138After getting the voucher, you can redeem it for your free flu shot at a CVS MinuteClinic or pharmacy. CVS decided to do this because the unemployed are, in general, the least likely group of people to get a seasonal flu shot, and in an effort to help these people stay healthy, they launched this program.http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/promoContent/promoLandingTemplate.jsp?promoLandingId=1138

Since the outbreak of swine flu, certain clinics have decided to give out free H1N1 vaccines. Clinics that offer this can be found in select areas, some of them being Los Angeles,http://cbs2.com/local/swine.flu.los.2.1266082.htmlChicago,http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/10/city-to-offer-free-h1n1-swine-flu-shots-at-6-sites.htmland Montgomery County.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/13/AR2009101303290.html