MILWAUKEE, Wis. (SPECTRUM NEWS) -- As the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic gets set to intersect with the upcoming flu season, Advocate Aurora Health Care is stepping up to provide free flu vaccines in marginalized neighborhoods in Milwaukee.

"We know that health inequities have existed in our country for a long time and in our community and in our state, and Covid-19 really shined a bright light on those health inequities," Cristy Garcia-Thomas, the Chief External Affairs Officer at Advocate Aurora told Spectrum News 1. "[U]nfortunately our marginalized communities, including people of color and, in particular, African-American and Hispanics, are hit very hard with Covid-19..."

CDC data shows that 48.4% of Wisconsinites age 18 and older were vaccinated in 2018-2019 (above average), with those age six-months to 17-years-old being vaccinated 60% of the time (below average).

Garcia-Thomas said the goal is to target minority communities with this free flu vaccine push as the rate of Black Americans and Hispanic Americans getting vaccinated against influenza is roughly 20% lower than White Americans, according to CDC data.

“In order for us to help people live well, we must provide our communities with access to the services they need and remove barriers to health care,” Garcia-Thomas added in a statement. “Distributing free flu vaccines is just one concrete way we can help get this health necessity to people who might otherwise face extra challenges getting a flu shot.”

No appointment is needed at the locations listed below.

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