How does public health prepare to disperse medicines to large amounts of people in case there is ever a public health emergency? Host a drive thru flu clinic for the community and use it as an emergency preparedness exercise at the same time!

“We need to ensure we are prepared to dispense medications from the Strategic National Stockpile so we plan exercises,” states Karen Craft, South Health District Emergency Preparedness Trainer. “We conduct these exercises throughout our district to test our staff and also educate the community.”

Anyone that has not yet received their flu vaccine this year is encouraged to come to the drive thru flu clinic on Monday, December 2 between 9 am and noon at the Ben Hill County Health Department. The flu vaccine will be available to anyone 6 months and older, and will cost $25. Accepted forms of payment are cash, check, Visa, Mastercard, Discover and some insurance companies can be billed: Medicaid, Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, and State Health Benefit Plan (United Healthcare and Cigna).

“The clinic will be open to noon; however, we’re asking as many people as possible to come through so we can best test our staff,” states Craft. “We also invite those that have already gotten their flu vaccine to ride through so we can practice the process even more.”