As the influenza season is upon us, Guthrie County Public Health is encouraging all residents six months of age and older to get an annual flu vaccine in order to prevent more serious illness as we are also dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Guthrie County Public Health Director Jotham Arber says appointments are available to get a flu shot at the health services building in Guthrie Center. In order to limit close contact these flu shots are being given right in people’s vehicles similar to how COVID-19 tests have been performed. Arber also mentions that there will be some specially-designated drive in flu shot days in the future, “We have all of our vaccines in now so we do have it available and I do think we have some good partnerships going on with local providers who are distributing a vaccine as well. Our goal here is to really over the next couple of weeks ramp that up so that we can hit a majority of the individuals that we’re looking to get to at the end of October and the beginning of November.”

Arber says his department plans to do flu shot clinics at all the county’s school buildings by the end of October. Much like wearing face masks, Arber says getting a flu shot protects not only yourself but those you come in contact with, including those who are not able to get the vaccine.