Seasonal flu shots in a hurry
Courtesy photo<br> Grant County Health District held a drive-through flu shot clinic last year. They partnered with local entities this year to practice for emergencies requiring mass vaccinations.
GRANT COUNTY— Grant County Health District is offering protection from the seasonal flu by hosting an adult-only drive-through clinic.
“The concept is to get people through quickly,” said public information officer Theresa Fuller. “People don’t have to wait in a long line.”
The clinic is for protection against the seasonal flu. It is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 3, at Quincy Fire Station.
“It is important to get a shot because we expect the regular flu season to hit soon,” Fuller said. “People need to realize that seasonal flu viruses change from year to year; the flu vaccine they received last year won’t protect them this year.”
The health district is working with Quincy Valley Medical Center, Quincy Community Health, Grant County Fire District 3 and Grant County Emergency Management.
“We practiced the drive-through clinic last year solo to test it out and are excited to bring partners in this year,” Fuller said.
Fuller said the clinic prepares the different entities for emergencies.
“The purpose is to practice doing a mass vaccination with community partners,” Fuller said. “This way, if an emergency were to occur, we would be able to vaccinate people quickly and effectively.”
The drive-through is also safe.
“The fact that everyone stays in their own vehicle means they are not surrounded by sick patients,” Fuller said.
Drive-through participants enter through the fire department and fill out paperwork. They pay a $25 fee and drive to another area in the building where two nurses are stationed to give shots to the passengers and driver.
“It is going to be a neat experience seeing all the different places come together,” Fuller said.
Requirements are to wear a short-sleeve shirt and no jacket, leave pets at home and be 19 years or older. The clinic only accepts cash, check or Medicare as payment.
The clinic does not offer the H1N1 vaccine. The health district expects to have the shot available the first few weeks of October and are working to get local health care providers signed up, Fuller said.
Quincy Fire Station is located at 1201 Central Ave. S.
For more information, call 509-766-7960.