THUNDER BAY – The Lakehead Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic held its second annual drive-thru flu shot clinic on Thursday.
“We started last year with the pandemic and it was very successful, patients really liked it, so, we did it again this year," said executive director Pam Delgaty. "It’s one of the lessons we learned from the pandemic: different ways of delivering health care."
“Patients like it, and we can get a lot done – today we did about 200 flu shots and next year we could probably do 300 because we have it down now. It’s actually even kind of fun for the staff to do.”
Given COVID restrictions, it would have taken the clinic two or three days in order to provide flu shots to as many people as they were able to cover with the drive-thru, she estimated.
Families are also enjoying the efficiency of driving up without the need to wrangle everybody into the clinic as well as the excuse it provides to spend a day out together.
“They really like this way of getting it, and families will come in their car and then go out for lunch – it’s kind of a fun event for them. It’s a good way of people getting the flu shot, for sure,” said Delgaty.
The Drive-Thru model also allows staff at the clinic to provide flu shots without interfering with the normal clinic services.
Clinic staff plan to continue the new tradition in the years to come.
The Lakehead Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic urges everyone to get their flu shots.
Residents can book flu shots through their health care provider or at a pharmacy. For children aged 6 to 23 months and their families, flu shot clinics will be held by the Thunder Bay District Health Unit at various locations including the Mass Immunization Clinic at the CLE.
For more information about TBDHU Clinics for those 6 months to 23 months of age and their families, including dates and locations, visit this website.
