|
|||||||||||||
Printer-Friendly
Email this Story
Post a Comment (0)
Hundreds of drivers get a shot in the arm
Getting a flu shot on Monday proved to be quick and painless for hundreds of people.As an exercise designed to test the efficiency of drive-through vaccinations, the Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District administered free flu shots to motorists at two sites in Fauquier and Orange counties.
The Fauquier County drill was scheduled to held from 2 to 6 p.m. at Lord Fairfax Community College, but volunteers said people began to show up shortly ahead of time. By 3 p.m., 250 people had received shots.
Most came in sedans, SUVs and pickup trucks — but one person arrived on the back of a motorcycle and others walked.
“Will this hurt?” one driver asked as he stopped next to a group of people manning one station set up in the back parking lot. The volunteers assured him he wouldn’t feel a thing, and asked a few questions while reviewing his consent form. Afterwards, the man rolled up his shirt sleeve and got a shot. Within a minute, he was on his way.
Another man, who wished to remain anonymous, had no reservations about getting his annual flu shot at the drive-through clinic.
“I heard about this, and I thought it would be convenient,” he said while waiting to get a vaccination.
According to district health director Dr. Dana Bradshaw, volunteers tracked how long it took each person to get from the check-in point to one of two nurse’s stations, and the time needed to administer each vaccine.
“Since we’re doing these drills to test our efficiency, it helps us get a feel for the best set-up and iron out any wrinkles,” Bradshaw said.
The Health Department’s goal was to give 800 flu shots at the two locations on the same day. The clinics were designed to simulate mass vaccinations that could occur in the event of a bio-terrorism attack or a naturally caused outbreak.
The first one was held at Booster Park in Orange from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Health officials said all but 33 of 400 planned vaccinations were given there.
E-mail the reporter: abogdanovic@timespapers.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.