Buncombe County Offers Free Walk-In COVID-19 Vaccines at A-B Tech

Walk in any Monday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday and leave with a free Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination: that's the offer Buncombe County Health and Human Services has made available at the A-B Tech Conference Center, 16 Fernihurst Drive in Asheville, for anyone 16 and older.

The clinic runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on those four days and requires no appointment. For a first dose, no documentation is needed beyond a name and date of birth. Patients who have insurance are welcome to bring their cards, but the vaccine is provided free regardless of coverage status.

Buncombe County Public Health Director Stacie Saunders is calling on residents to take advantage of the site. "Getting vaccinated protects you and the community," Saunders said. After the shot, clinic staff keep patients on-site for a standard 15-minute observation period; the county estimates the entire visit takes about 30 minutes. The facility has easy parking and offers language services for those who need them.

The CDC identifies adults 65 and older, people who are immunocompromised, and those managing chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and lung disease as the groups most vulnerable to severe COVID-19. The updated 2025-2026 vaccine formulation is recommended for anyone 6 months and older under shared decision-making guidelines, and the CDC specifically emphasizes it for people who have never been vaccinated at all.

Two hesitations come up repeatedly around updated COVID vaccines. The first is that side effects are dangerous: the Mayo Clinic notes that serious side effects remain extremely rare, and most reactions amount to a sore arm or brief fatigue that fades within a day or two. The second is that protection doesn't last long enough to bother. The CDC's own guidance acknowledges vaccine immunity does wane over time, which is the reason officials recommend staying current with updated formulations rather than relying on shots received years earlier.

The A-B Tech site is not the only no-cost option in Buncombe County. The county's permanent immunizations clinic at 40 Coxe Avenue in downtown Asheville offers walk-in hours Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 to 11:30 a.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Appointments at that location can be made by calling 828-250-5096. For residents who want to find a pharmacy or clinic closer to their neighborhood, the federal VaccineFinder tool lists available locations by zip code.

Anyone who prefers a set time at the A-B Tech clinic can schedule through the Buncombe Ready team. Clinic staff will also arrange second-dose appointments on-site for patients who need them.