With flu season right around the corner, local residents will again have the opportunity to quickly and conveniently arm themselves by rolling up their sleeves at an upcoming drive-thru clinic held by the Gilmer County Health Department.
The drive-thru flu shot clinic will take place 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, at the ETC Pavilion, 1041 Legion Road.
The latest regular and high-dose quadrivalent vaccines will be offered at the clinic, with each vaccine covering two A and two B strains of the flu predicted to be circulating most prevalently this flu season, noted Jennifer King, spokesperson for the six-county North Georgia Health District.
“It’s based on what’s circulating on the other hemisphere during their flu season. They have to keep it updated,” King added.
Out-of-pocket costs are $25 for regular vaccines and $65 for the high dose option, usually recommended for senior citizens age 65 and up. The shots are given at no cost if covered by one of several health plans accepted by the health department, King noted.
“We usually just cover our administrative fees with the (flu shot fees). We try not to charge any more than we have to, but it is necessary for us to cover our expenses. We charge the lowest amount (we can) and haven’t raised those prices in years,”she added.
Despite rain that day, 108 were vaccinated at Gilmer County’s 2021 drive-thru clinic. That’s a good number for a county this size, noted King. Drive-thru clinic numbers have remained steady and even increased in some of the health district’s counties since the COVID pandemic started in 2020.
“If anything, the numbers increased (last year). Our county that has the largest (drive-thru clinic) numbers is Whitfield, although it’s not our largest county. They come out in hundreds there, and (the clinic) has a very faithful following,” King said. “Cherokee is our largest county, and their numbers have been rising, especially during COVID-19. We hope to see those numbers rise even further this year.”
Although the pandemic has subsided since this time last year, the virus is still circulating and Gilmer’s case numbers have been high in recent weeks, noted King. Although flu and COVID vaccines are exclusive to each respective virus, getting a flu shot can reduce risk to one’s immune system in a season where both viruses tend to flourish, she added.
“You want to do everything you can to keep your immunity as strengthened as possible to avoid COVID, flu and other viruses that can be prevalent during the winter months,” King said.
Masks will again be worn by health department personnel at this year’s clinic, and customers are urged to wear masks as well, King noted.
“Gilmer’s level of COVID transmission, last week, was high. When it gets to be medium or high in any community, it’s a good thing to wear a mask anytime you’re in a public place — especially for anybody who’s in a high risk category or at higher risk of getting sick,”she added.
Both regular and high-dose flu shots will also be available at the health department, located at 28 Southside Church Street, for the same prices. They will be available as long as supply allows, but that’s rarely ever an issue, King noted.
“There may be times when they need to wait for more to come in, but it pretty much comes in on a regular basis,” she added. “We do ask that people make appointments ahead of time when coming to the health department to get a flu shot. People don’t have to make an appointment for COVID vaccines.”