Published: October 01, 2009 10:04 am      

Need a flu shot? Use the drive-thru!

A steady stream of cars, pickups, trucks, vans, SUVs and even some small buses pulled into the parking lot of the Pittsburg County Health Department as the first day of regular seasonal flu vaccinations began Wednesday.

One man even pulled in driving a back-hoe, said Tiffany Busby, a registered nurse with the health department, who helped staff an outdoor station for those who didn’t go inside the building.

Freida Tyson, of Hartshorne, joined those who got a seasonal flu vaccine inside the building shortly after the immunizations became available at the health department.

“I thought I would get one while I was here,” Tyson said.

Pat Leeper brought several of her family members along with her to get their vaccinations inside the health department.

All four people in her group were able to complete the paperwork and get their shots in from five to 10 minutes, she said.

Pat Leeper not only brought along her husband, Red Leeper, but their adult daughter, Debbie Leeper, and a visiting cousin from Oklahoma City, Pat McKay.

“I brought everybody — it was so fast and easy,” she said.

By 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, 930 people had already been vaccinated at the health department and health personnel planned to continue giving the vaccinations for another half-hour.

Regular season flu vaccinations are being offered at the health department without charge to the recipient.

The health department plans to continue giving the seasonal influenza vaccinations today and Friday including the offer to give vaccinations outside the building to those who have trouble getting out of their vehicles.

If it’s raining today, the outdoor vaccinations will be likely be offered under the building’s covered front entrance, said Pittsburg County Health Department Administrator Mike Echelle.

Regular hours for the health department, at the corner of Strong Boulevard and College Avenue, are from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

Plans are also under way for a special drive-through outdoor clinic on Saturday, with details to be outlined in the Friday edition of the News-Capital. The regular seasonal flu immunizations will then continue to be available on weekdays as long as the supply of vaccine lasts.

On Wednesday, Busby and Licensed Practical Nurse Deanna Sexton were administering the regular seasonal flu shots to those who were directed to the outdoor station.

To help expedite matters, Lesa Curry, Karlita Lott and Dawn Edwards, also with the health department, were taking information and offering other assistance.

Sexton leaned inside one car with needle in hand, as Dianna Coufal, sitting in the passenger seat, rolled up her sleeve for her flu shot.

“We wanted to get one; maybe it will ward off the swine flu,” Dianna Coufal said.

While health officials are urging everyone who is able to get a seasonal flu vaccination, they aren’t making any claims about it offering protection from the Influenza A H1N1 swine flu virus. A date hasn’t been finalized as to when Pittsburg County will get its supply of vaccine against the H1N1 swine flu virus, according to Echelle.

The county health department has received 6,000 doses of the regular seasonal flu vaccine and more is expected, he said.

Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.

com.