Owensboro Health will open up its first ever drive-thru flu shot clinic Thursday at the Owensboro Convention Center. The move to implement a no-appointment-needed curbside flu shot clinic was made in light of ongoing COVID-19 cases and healthcare providers’ need to differentiate coronavirus cases from flu cases this fall.
According to B.C. Childress, OH Director for Outpatient Pharmacy Services, a team at Owensboro Health began looking into ways to protect patients and staff back when COVID-19 started spreading in March.
Without having to make an appointment, patients at the curbside clinic will be able to call a phone number listed at the site when they show up.
Childress said Owensboro Health is offering hundreds of doses of the three most common flu vaccines at the curbside site.
“It’s especially important to get your flu vaccine this year to avoid higher hospital burdens and unneeded quarantines,” Childress said, adding that this year’s most common flu vaccine was determined to be 60% effective. “This year, more than ever, we need that herd immunity pertaining to the flu.”
The drive-thru flu shot clinic will be open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. starting Thursday. Most prescription insurance cards will be accepted, including Medicare. A private pay of $25 can be made via cash or check for those without health insurance.
OH is also offering curbside flu shots at both the Outpatient Pharmacy (entrance B) on weekdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and at Urgent Care at the Ford Medical Building from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. every day.
