Rocky Boy holding drive-through flu shot clinic

The Rocky Boy Health Center is hosting a free drive-through influenza shot clinic event this year, the first ever held there, for the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation community.

The event will be at the Rocky Boy Health Center Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will be for people ages 19 and older.

Clinic Health Department Program Assistant Kayla LaSalle said people are reminded to wear short-sleeve shirts so it is easier to administer the shot.

The event will be at the clinic and will be a full drive through, with three different stations, LaSalle said. People will drive to the parking lot following signs and be greeted at the first station by a person who will provide information about the flu shot. At the second station, a nurse will administer the shot through the window of the vehicle and people are asked to stop at the third station for a final check of information.

“It’s a new way to deliver services we want to try out in case of an incident,” Rocky Boy Director of Public Health and Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Janet Runnion said.

She said that this is a way the Rocky Boy Health Center can offer the health protection of the flu shot to community members and test its capability to respond to an incident, such as an influenza pandemic.

“Rocky Boy Health Center is committed to providing quality care for our community members,” she said. “It’s a big test for us. What can we do, in what amount of time”

She said the facility is always preparing for emergencies. This exercise can test using the procedure to be used not only to administer flu shots but, if needed, medication.

Rocky Boy Health Clinic is not the first to have a drive-through flu clinic, she added, but if the event goes well she would be interested in having it be an annual event. She said health center staff members from various departments will be participating in the exercise.

“It could be a useful tool,” she said. 

Runnion added that the clinic is pulling together as a group to best serve the community. 

“It should be fun,” she said.