COLUMBUS, Ind. — Columbus Regional Health has announced that it will offer drive-thru flu shots this fall for safety and convenience during the pandemic in an effort to encourage people to get vaccinated this year.
The drive-thru clinic, which starts today at PromptMed, 2502 25th St., will operate Wednesdays and Thursdays this fall and is only available by appointment for patients who have a CRH primary care provider, said CRH spokeswoman Kelsey DeClue.
Flu season in the United States typically runs from December through March or April, but local doctors recommend that people get their vaccines in September or October.
Flu, or influenza, is a common viral infection that can be deadly, especially in high-risk groups, according to the Mayo Clinic. The flu virus attacks the lungs, nose and throat.
Local health officials are urging people to get vaccinated to reduce the risk of illness, hospitalization and death from the flu. Some of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, making it hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms.
“We really want people to vaccinate,” DeClue said. “It’s important every year, but we really want people to vaccinate this year more than ever.”
For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Republic.
