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News you can use
Montana State University-Northern nursing student Desiree Norden gives a flu shot Tuesday at Northern Montana Hospital's drive-in flu clinic. Northern Montana Health Care held an in-house flu vaccination clinic Monday and Tuesday and is holding a drive-through flu vaccination clinic for the general public next week, Thurday through Saturday.
Tony Gabrielsen receives a flu shot Tusday from nursing student Stephanie Moog at the Northern Montana Hospital drive-in flu clinic. Northern Montana Health Care held an in-house flu vaccination clinic Monday and Tuesday and is holding a drive-through flu vaccination clinic for the general public next week, Thurday through Saturday.
After holding a successful drive-through in-house influenza vaccination clinic Monday and Tuesday, Northern Montana Health Care is set to hold the same kind of clinic for the general public.
The clinic will be Thursday, Oct. 1, from 2-7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 3, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., all on the main parking lot, the third-floor parking lot, of Northern Montana Hospital.
People are asked to wear layers so their shoulders are easily accessible, wear a mask and bring a completed registration form for everyone in their vehicle.
The clinic comes as health care officials and organizations are urging people to get influenza vaccinations to reduce cases that could stress a health care system already dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Northern Montana Health Care Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator Julianne LaSmith said the drive-through clinic concept is based on what the staff at the flu clinic have been doing.
She said, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Northern Montana Health Care is trying to keep the number of people coming through its doors as low as possible, using social distancing for the public's sake.
"So the idea for the drive-through was born," she said. "... We have been triaging in cars at our flu clinic since we opened it in March. It works really well in these scenarios."
LaSmith said the flu clinic works in the same fashion.
The clinic will have several lanes coming in. Cars with children younger than 5 will be seen in a different line and brought into a pediatric trailer. Buses or vans also will have their own lane.
"The most important detail is that they must complete a registration form for every person in their vehicle that will be getting a shot," LaSmith said. "We will have forms available but it would be easier for them to download it off of Facebook ahead of time. We can also email them the form if that will work better.
She said people can contact her at [email protected] or call her at 262-1419 for more information or to get a form emailed to them.
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