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Public health has become a more mindful concern for many in recent years and last Tuesday, the Clark County Health Department (CCHD) took action to benefit the community.

From 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Oct. 17, at the Legacy Grove Park location at 1107 W. Lexington Avenue, a free drive-thru flu clinic was set up to allow citizens to obtain flu shots.

“It’s open to anyone ages nine and under,” said Jen Burchett, nurse administrator for the health department. “We have both the high dose, which is recommended for [individuals] 65 and older and the regular dose.”

The free drive-thru flu clinic occurred at Legacy Grove Park for the second year.

The park offered ample space with an entire parking lot that can be used at a slightly uphill location.

Along with necessary equipment, three lines were available so drivers in different vehicles could receive care.

According to Burchett, October is an ideal time to receive the shot.

“We want people to get vaccinated. This is the perfect time to get it,” Burchett said. “We don’t want [people] to wait too much longer in the season because we tend to start seeing it [in] November, December and January.”

While the Clark County Health Department put on the event, with CCHD Public Health Director Becky Kissick present, they were far from the only individuals active.

Ten students from Eastern Kentucky University and Dr. Nathania Bush, an instructor at the university’s school of nursing, helped administer the flu shots.

“These are senior-level nursing students, and they’re actually doing a public health clinical in Clark County,” Bush said. “We try to encourage our students to look at the big view of public health…an initiative like this is just a great demonstration of that.”

“I think that public health is something that not a lot of people think of when they think of nursing,” added senior nursing student Tristan Winstead. “At Eastern, they really want us to have a robust, well-rounded nursing experience, and public health is part of that.”

Typically, flu vaccines are given via intramuscular injection into the deltoid muscle for people over three and the front, outer area of the thigh for younger children and infants.

The clinic was well-received, with approximately 60 attendees through the first two hours alone.

Along with health and cost benefits, having a free drive-thru flu vaccine is advantageous in other ways, too.

“I think people appreciate the convenience of not having to [make] an appointment,” Burchett said. You don’t even have to get out of your car if you don’t want to.”