The Panhandle Health District is offering drive-thru flu vaccinations in the coming week in Sandpoint, Hayden and St. Maries.

Gretchin Fisher, one of the clients who came for a high-dose vaccination at the first clinic on Wednesday, said she drove over after her daughter told her about the clinic. At 78, she said it was especially important to her given the increased risks with COVID-19 in addition to the flu.

“I do [get vaccinated] every year, but especially this year,” she said. “I think this is a great service, I hope they get lots of people coming here.”

Many of the clients at the Sandpoint clinic on Wednesday were seniors getting the high-dose vaccinations that are recommended for those 65 and up, said Karianne Yarnell, one of the nurses administering the vaccinations.

Kelly Miller, another client, returned with her mother, Ingrid Frick, after getting her own vaccination at the clinic.

Frick, who is 83 years old, said it was the first flu vaccination she had gotten in about 10 years. She decided to this year because of the increased risks of COVID-19 and the flu both circulating.

“You gotta protect yourself as much as possible,” Frick said.

It is also possible to contract both COVID- 19 and the flu or other respiratory disease at the same time, according to the press release. Although rare, this occurrence could still happen. One unique symptom of COVID-19 is a loss of taste or smell.

In either case, people who believe they are infected should stay home and self-quarantine, said PHD Clinical Nurse Manager Kristina Gavin.

PHD staff will offer adult vaccinations and high-dose vaccinations for seniors, according to a press release from PHD. Clients are encouraged to call ahead of time, and must schedule at a nearby clinic for pediatric vaccinations.

Getting a flu vaccination is always important, Gavin said, but even more so this year because COVID-19 is also circulating and has some of the same symptoms.

The drive-thru clinics were set up largely to reduce transmission risk by limiting crowds, she said.

The public is advised to get a flu vaccination before the virus starts spreading in a community, according to the press release, as it takes roughly two weeks for the vaccination antibodies to develop.

The CDC recommends people get vaccinations by the end of October, however if someone is unable to do so by then, they should still be vaccinated to be protected through the end of the flu season. Idaho had 39 influenza-related deaths in the 2019-2020 season, according to the press release.

Of those, nine occurred in the area.

More information can be found at www.panhandlehealthdistrict. org. Flu shots can also be found using vaccinefinder.org.

The next vaccination clinic in Sandpoint will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 7 at Travers Park, 2102 Pine St. and in Hayden from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 7 at 8500 N. Atlas Road. In St. Maries, clinics will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 1 and Oct. 22 at the Cormana Building, 1101 Idaho Ave.