Providence free drive-through adult flu clinic Oct. 24

Providence offers its annual free drive-through adult flu shot clinic on Oct. 24 at the Providence Southgate Medical Park main building entrance (former main entrance of Walla Walla General Hospital) from 9 a.m. to noon, or until the vaccine is gone. This is a new location for the annual drive-through clinic.

People can be vaccinated without leaving their cars, and no appointments are necessary. People are asked to follow the signs as they enter and to wear masks to protect Providence caregivers while being immunized. Walk-ups also are accepted.

The clinic is sponsored by Providence St. Mary and the Providence Medical Group in cooperation with the Walla Walla County Department of Community Health.

Free immunizations are available to adults age 18 and over. Although the clinic is open to all adults, Providence would like to encourage people to come who are low income and do not have health insurance. The clinic also is ideal for people who might have difficulty walking since they do not have to leave their vehicles to get the shot.

No vaccine for children will be available at this clinic. To get immunizations for your children, please call your primary care physician. The clinic also will not have a high-dose flu vaccine for people 65 and over or FluMist. People who need FluMist or high-dosage shots should contact their primary care providers.

It will be the ninth year that Providence and Community Health have teamed up to offer a one-day free flu clinic. The clinic not only advances immunity in our community but also serves as an annual drill for Providence and Community Health on the logistics of immunizing a large number of people quickly and efficiently. The training and interagency collaboration from doing these mass drive-through flu vaccination clinics over the years will dovetail into preparations for mass COVID-19 immunizations in Walla Walla once the COVID-19 vaccine becomes available.

Flu season usually begins in October and can last through May. The CDC recommends annual immunizations for adults to protect them from the flu. It is more important now than ever to get immunized against the flu because some flu symptoms are similar to those of COVID-19. Being vaccinated helps protect you and your loved ones from the flu and preserves health care resources to treat people with COVID-19.

Providence St. Mary Medical Center, a 142-bed regional hospital located in Walla Walla, Wash., is one of the largest employers in Walla Walla County. The Providence Medical Group is the largest group of primary care providers and specialists in the Walla Walla area.