Health experts say that precautions New Jersey residents are taking to prevent the spread of COVID-19 could help curb this year’s flu season. But they are also encouraging people to get their flu shots.

Hoboken was one of the first cities in New Jersey to offer free COVID-19 testing for residents. The city is now doing the same thing for the flu.

“The coincidence of COVID and the flu season together could put stress on the health care systems,” says Hoboken Family Pharmacy owner Jaffer Shahid. “So, minimizing those serious complications and the amount of people who actually contract the flu is more important."

Shahid’s pharmacy teamed up with the city to have the free clinic this week so that the as many people as possible would have access to the vaccine. The city is covering the cost for the uninsured.

"If you don’t have insurance or you don’t have the economic means right now – which could be the case for a lot of people without jobs because of COVID, we don’t want that to be a deterrent to not get vaccinated,” Shahid says.

Hoboken residents were asked to sign up online ahead of time. Appointments are scheduled at least five minutes apart so that there are no crowds.

“A clean space where we can keep a lot of distances between everybody. We’re obviously sanitizing,” Shahid says.

The free clinic continues on Friday. Shahid says that he and many colleagues anticipated the expanded interest in the flu vaccine and ordered extra this year. It is recommended that people get the flu shot as early as possible.