Flu vaccines, drive-thru style
ZANESVILLE — The purpose of the Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department's annual drive-thru flu clinic was to kill two birds with one stone, according to public health nurse Jamie Keinzman.
The first goal, of course, was to provide a community health service, Kleinzman said. The clinic offered 2,455 free flu vaccine shots to any Muskingum County resident who pulled into the fairgrounds and drove up in their cars alongside a team of volunteer medical staff who would administer the vaccine.
"The goal is to keep you in your car, let you just drive up, get your shot and be on your way," Kleinzman said. "We always try to make a convenient way to receive preventative care and keep the area healthy in preparation for flu season."
The second goal of the clinic was to prepare local health workers for any possible emergency medical situation.
"Let's use anthrax as an example," Kleinzman said. "We use this kind of clinic as a test course, to make sure we can efficiently and safely administer medication in case a widespread emergency medical situation occurs, like an anthrax outbreak. This way, we'll be ready to handle anything that could occur."
The clinic has been an annual tradition of sorts for the past decade, according to health educator Kristina Bell. She drove around the clinic in a golf cart, reviewing the operation, pointing out the nursing students from Ohio University Zanesville and the certified medical assistants from Zane State who were administering the shots, along with the criminal justice students from Zane State and Mid-East Career and Technology Center who were handling security and order.
"We have six different lanes open for cars to go through, and everything is running smoothly," Bell said.
For the drivers who pulled up to the free clinic, order and emergency medical response preparation was not much of a concern. Rather, flu shot recipients like Bill Steed simply wanted a vaccination that was quick and easy — and hopefully painless.
"I hate needles, hate them," Steed said as he rolled up his sleeve and bared his arm out the window of his car. "But this is great, because I can just come in, look ahead out my windshield and try not think about it."
This year's flu vaccine fights against four different strains of the flu, including the two strains that had been absent from last year's vaccine.
Those working the clinic asked vaccine recipients for insurance information, and if preventative care like flu shots was covered so some of the costs could be recouped. The clinic was otherwise paid for by the health department with the support of local organizations.
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