Car after car this morning, they lined up, signed up and rolled up their sleeves for a flu shot that got right to the point. The Nebraska Medical Center’s drive-thru flu shot clinic at Clarkson West Medical Center kept a team of nurses busy for more than four hours.
More than 600 people received the flu shot Wednesday during the clinic that started early and stayed open late to serve those who lined up.
“People want to do what’s right for their health,” said Bob Muelleman, M.D., medical director of emergency services at The Nebraska Medical Center and chief of the section of emergency medicine at UNMC. “Making what’s right also convenient helps everyone and also shows appreciation for the busy lives we lead.”
This flu season is expected to be moderately severe, worse than the relatively mild flu seasons we’ve experienced over the past few years, said Mark Rupp, M.D., an infectious disease specialist with The Nebraska Medical Center and associate professor of infectious diseases at UNMC.
The flu is a contagious disease that attacks the respiratory track and is different from a cold. It usually comes on suddenly and may include fever, headache, dry cough, sore throat and body aches. Symptoms can last up to two weeks.
While most people recover from the flu, some people will develop life-threatening complications like pneumonia. An average of 36,000 people die each year from the flu, making it a far bigger danger than SARS or the West Nile Virus, Dr. Rupp said.
Connie Mimick, director of Clarkson West Medical Center, said Wednesday’s interest in the drive-thru flu shot clinic tells them they need to start planning for next year.