Brenda Sanchez and her 10-year-old daughter waited in line for 20 minutes to receive a free flu shot without ever having to step out of the family minivan.
Sanchez and her daughter were one of more than about 1,000 to receive their flu vaccine at the UNM Southeast Clinic parking lot on Saturday.
“We’re on our way to a football game and we thought, ‘Why not?’ It’s easy to do and I don’t have to worry about getting seriously sick,” Sanchez said.
The annual drive-thru vaccine clinic is a service sponsored by UNM’s Health Sciences Center. To prepare for demand, UNM had more than 4,000 vaccines at its drive-through clinic. A UNM representative at the clinic said everyone who needs one will get a shot.
SHAC will offer two more flu shot clinics at the SUB for adult students, staff and faculty on Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
The UNM Northeast Heights clinic will offer free flu shots on Saturday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. The clinic is located at 7801 Academy Blvd. N.E.
Flu shots are free to everyone 9 and older.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, influenza kills about 36,000 Americans every year and puts 200,000 more in the hospital with pneumonia, encephalitis or other complications.
Last year, UNM freshman Raymond Plotkin died from H1N1 flu. His mother, Elaine Plotkin, started a campaign called “Take one for Raymond” in an effort to get others immunized. She also started a blog that educates others on where they can get free shots and encourages people to be immunized.
“We are strongly recommending that because Raymond couldn’t take his shot last year, that this year everyone, that whether you’re a child, adult, parent, grandparent, we all take one for Raymond,” she posted on her blog.
UNM students can get a free flu shot at Student Health and Counseling (SHAC) anytime during normal business hours. Walk-ins are accepted.
