Drive-by Flu Shot Clinics a Great Success in North Georgia

A public health nurse administers a flu shot to one of thousands of north Georgians who were vaccinated via Drive-By Flu Shot Clinics operated in the North Georgia Health District this fall.

The holidays are a busy time of year full of travelling, shopping, social gatherings and sometimes, the flu. County public health departments in the North Georgia Health District decided to help people fit flu shots into their busy schedules by conducting drive-by flu shot clinics. This quick and convenient method of delivery allows people to stay in their vehicles to receive their flu shot: an easy and safe method of flu protection.

Moreover, the drive-by flu shot clinics served as an opportunity for the health departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield counties to test their abilities to rapidly administer medications in the event of a widespread public health crisis.

"Our success was partially due to our skillfully-trained public health staff and state-of-the-art mobile Mass Vaccination Stations purchased for the health departments through federal funding from the CDC," said David Huskey, the director of emergency preparedness for the North Georgia Health District.

These fully mobile and efficient Mass Vaccination Stations greatly enhanced the smooth operation of the clinics. The systems were easily transported to the clinics via seven trailers, with two refrigerated Mass Vaccination Stations on each trailer. Remarkably, each Mass Vaccination Station is capable of serving 5,000 people before restocking is necessary.

Huskey also gave kudos to the strong, supportive partnerships each county health department has built with its EMA, EMS, police department, sheriff's department, medical community, public works department, government offices, school system, business community, faith-based organizations, and emergency volunteer groups such as the Community Emergency Response Team, all of whom actively assisted with the drive-by flu shot clinics. Without the assistance of these partners, it would be virtually impossible to conduct any type of mass vaccination or point of dispensing clinic, especially in the midst of a public health emergency.

According to the CDC, roughly one-fifth of the U.S. population becomes infected with the flu virus each year, including an estimated 200,000 people who require hospitalization and approximately 36,000 who die from flu-related illness. Therefore, the North Georgia Health District will continue to remind the public that the best protection against influenza is an influenza shot.


-Story by Jennifer King, Public Information Officer and Risk Communicator, North Georgia Health District (District 1-2)

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