PARMA, Ohio — As we enter the start of flu season, health officials stress getting the flu shot and up to date on vaccinations is more important than ever.
The Cuyahoga County Board of Health hosted a drive-thru vaccination clinic Tuesday night, focused on getting students K-12 up to date on their vaccinations.
It’s a one-stop-shop where people can drive up and get anything from a flu shot to MMR to TDAP, whatever the child may need. Adults were encouraged to come by and get a flu shot, too.
“We know how important it is to keep our kids safe and healthy,” said Lasonya Tallman who brought her kids in the drive-thru clinic.
Mom Jamie Walentynowicz said she works in the healthcare field, so when she heard about the clinic she wanted to make sure her kids were up to date.
“ I want to make sure me and my kids stay safe whether it be for COVID when there’s a vaccinate for that, flu, the whole 9,” she said. “They’ve been having a hard time getting shots at the doctor’s office.”
Andrew Heffron, the clinical director for the Cuyahoga County Board of Health said they're worried kids will be behind on their vaccinations due to the pandemic.
“The last thing we need is a Measles outbreak or any of those other vaccine preventable diseases occurring at the same time as COVID,” he said.
He stressed getting a flu shot for your kids is just as important as getting their school immunizations.
“As we run into cold and flu season, we want as many people to be vaccinated as possible against the flu so we can limit how much load the hospitals take,” said Heffron.
The Cuyahoga County Board of Health is planning on conducting a COVID-19 vaccine distribution drive-thru once a vaccine is created.
“We will distribute the vaccine in a very similar format with registration and then lanes like how we have it set up tonight,” said Heffron.
The board of health is holding drive-thru vaccination clinics through November every Wednesday 9 a.m. to 11:30 am.
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