Local residents will again be able to roll up their sleeves and arm themselves against the flu without having to take both hands off the wheel.
The Gilmer County Health Department will host its annual drive-thru flu shot clinic Tuesday, Oct. 3, at the ETC Pavilion on Legion Road. Flu shots will be given from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Krystal Sumner, Gilmer Health Department nurse manager, said this year’s drive-thru clinic will last longer to accommodate more people including those who have to pick up kids from school. The drive-thru clinic will offer flu shots only for those age 18 and up.
“They don’t have to get out of their cars, and it only takes about five minutes,” said Sumner.
The clinic will offer the regular four-in-one quadrivalent flu vaccine, which protects against two A and two B flu strains, and the high-dose version of the vaccine for those age 65 and up.
“The high-dose vaccine covers four strains of the flu just like the regular flu shot, but it also contains four times more protection for older people who need that extra protection,” said Jennifer King, North Georgia Health District public information officer.
Health departments in the six-county North Georgia district have conducted drive-thru flu shot clinics since 2008, and all six will continue to do so this October, confirmed King. The series of drive-thru clinics will start Oct. 2 in Murray County and end Oct. 12 in Fannin County.
“In past years, some of them were in September and others were in October, but all of them will be in October this year,” said King. “This is an opportunity to bring a higher level of attention to the need for a flu shot and that they are available at the health department. People like not having to get out of their cars, but it’s especially good for older people who find it harder to get out in public. It’s not only more convenient, but also safer for them.”
The flu shots are given at no cost if covered under various health insurances accepted by the health department including Medicare, Medicaid and others. Out-of-pocket costs are $25 for the regular vaccine and $65 for the high-dose version.
Last year’s local drive-thru clinic, also at the ETC Pavilion, dispensed 113 flu vaccines, which was a slightly higher number than in 2021. A total of 1,120 flu shots were given at last year’s drive-thru clinics in the six-county district. King said that’s considered a strong turnout, especially considering that flu shots are now available from more outlets, such as pharmacies.
“Years ago, our numbers were bigger, but that’s when we were the only game in town to get the flu shot,” she added.
Both flu shots will also be available at the Gilmer Health Department, located at 28 Southside Church Street, as supply allows. At press time, only the regular flu shot was being given there, but both will be available soon, Sumner noted.
“We are hoping to get some more high dose flu vaccine this week, but we will definitely have it all in next week. We have some of the high-dose (set aside just) for the drive-thru,” she added.
The health department will also hold flu shot clinics at local schools during October, and health department staff will give flu shots during a health fair at Dalton State College’s Gilmer campus in November.
“We will go to each school, and the dates will vary from school to school,” Sumner said. “We try to do all our onsite flu clinics in October, which is the start of flu season.”
Sumner said local businesses can also arrange for the health department to do onsite flu shot clinics.
“They can just call us, and we’d be more than happy to schedule (a clinic) at their convenience and offer flu vaccines to their employees,” she added.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimated that the 2022-23 flu season saw almost 300,000 flu-related hospitalizations and 19,000 flu-related deaths nationwide, as well as a “tripledemic” in which all three major respiratory viruses – flu, COVID-19 and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) – circulated at the same time. This is the first year that vaccines for all three of those illnesses are available.
For now, the RSV shot, a new vaccine, is available only to health department patients age 60 and up, but it may be approved at some point for others with underlying medical conditions, noted King.
“We recommend (patients) first have a conversation with their medical provider to discuss the need,” added Sumner. “If the provider recommends it, they can come here and discuss with us about receiving that vaccine.”
The latest COVID booster, which was also just recently released, is currently being given to uninsured patients at the health department. There’s no difference in the vaccines themselves, but the state is funding the vaccine for those who are uninsured, while health departments are purchasing the remainder of the supply, noted Sumner. Unlike in past years, the federal government is no longer funding the purchase of COVID vaccine supplies.
“(The supply for insured patients) should be coming any day now,” Sumner said.
King said fall and winter is when transmission of the three big respiratory illnesses is usually highest. Getting vaccinated provides the best protection against the flu, but other simple steps can also lessen transmission, she noted.
“Things people can do beyond vaccines include washing their hands thoroughly, covering coughs and sneezes and other things we’ve recommended over the years for protecting against catching and spreading illnesses. People tend to be more in enclosed areas in the fall and winter months, which makes you more susceptible, and there are also all the family get-togethers and celebrations that occur in the fall and winter months. It’s a good time to make sure you protect yourself against these illnesses as much as possible,” King said.