Oct. 17 -- Cynthia Parker sat in her car like it was just another day when the needle carrying the flu vaccine went into her arm Thursday as it had so many times before at the Morgan County Health Department Drive-Thru Flu Clinic.
"I feel like we need to protect ourselves and our families by getting it, so I try to do it," Parker said. "My son is Type I diabetic, and I sure don't want him to catch anything from me. And I have grandchildren, so I certainly don't want to give them anything. Family's important. Very important."
The annual Drive-Thru Flu Clinic was held in the back parking lot of the Health Department. This is the second year in a row that it has been held at the facility on U.S. 31. Previously, it was held in a church parking lot.
Parker, 73, from Decatur, said she gets the flu shot every year and usually at the Drive-Thru Flu Clinic.
"It's easier," she said. "It's nice to be able to drive through and not have to make a doctor's appointment."
Ashley Cohen, Health Department staff registered nurse, said it is more crucial for certain people to receive the flu vaccination than others.
"It helps stop the spread of the flu, especially for those with underlying conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, people with heart problems, low immune systems immunocompromised," she said.
Cohen said this is the perfect time of year to receive a flu shot because now is the beginning of flu season.
"September, October is the best time to receive the flu vaccine. It'll carry you on through the beginning of next year," she said. "All you need is one unless you're under the age of 8 and you've never had it. If that's your first time of getting it and you're under the age of 8, they recommend you get two doses, four weeks apart."
Clynise Simpson, Health Department staff registered nurse, said the clinic was slower than in past years. By about 11 a.m., the clinic had given out about 25 flu shots. The clinic started at 9 a.m.
"It seems like it's not as busy as it was last year with the flow of the traffic. We're slower than we have been in years past at this time," Simpson said. "Normally, it's pretty steady during the day, but we've had lapses of free time. So, we've not seen as many as we would have during this time."
Simpson said a lot of other counties are not seeing as many people visit clinics either. She said she did not have a good guess as to why there were fewer people.
"I hate to speculate, but with flu and COVID, a lot of people have the misconception that the flu vaccine doesn't work, or it gives them the flu -- which isn't correct," Simpson said. "I don't know what the real reason is. Which is unfortunate, because it is an important vaccine to get. It does its job; it does what it's supposed to do.
"It doesn't give you the flu. It just sets your immune system up to resist it when you do get exposed to it."
The clinic was expected to go until 2 p.m.
"We're hoping this is just the morning time and the after lunch more people will come through," she said.
For those that missed the Drive-Thru Clinic, the Health Department is still offering the vaccine. Simpson said people can walk in any time between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. She said October is a good month to receive the flu shot because it takes up to two weeks for the vaccination to become effective.