Drive-thru flu vaccines available in Pierce County through early December
Worried about the coronavirus? Here’s something pro-active you can do: Get a flu shot. Now.
Doctors have warned that the collision of the usual flu season with the pandemic could overrun hospitals in the fall and winter months.
In response, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, along with MultiCare Health System and Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, are offering flu shots at various drive-thru events in the county, running through Dec. 3.
“By partnering together to offer drive-thru flu clinics, we can provide even more opportunities for our community to receive this necessary vaccine beyond our MultiCare clinics,” said David Carlson, DO, MultiCare’s chief physician officer.
At each drive-thru, you can get a flu shot without leaving your vehicle. The shots are free for people 18 and younger and uninsured adults. Insured adults will need to bring their insurance card so their health plan can be billed.
The annual shot is recommended for all residents starting at age 6 months.
For convenience and safety in administering the shots, the health department asks that you wear a face mask and short sleeves. Children under 3 should wear shorts.
According to the county health department, 13 people died as a result of the flu during the most recent flu season, including two children. The flu claimed 42 lives in the 2018-2019 season.
“A vaccine doesn’t exist yet for COVID-19, but we have one for the flu,” said Communicable Disease Division director Nigel Turner at Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. “The flu shot is your best protection against the flu, and it’ll help keep more ill people out of our hospitals that are helping people affected by COVID-19,” he said.
For a list of dates and locations for the events and more, go to tpchd.org/healthy-people/flu.
This story was originally published September 25, 2020 at 12:05 PM.
