The day after public health officials ­announced that a Boston child died after contracting the flu, hundreds flocked to 23 health clinics around the city Saturday clamoring for free flu vaccinations.

Marquita Coston arrived at the Dorchester House Multi-Service Center’s health clinic with her 8-year-old daughter just after 9 a.m. They had heard the news about the child and the five Boston adults who had the flu and died, and they were scared.