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Drive-Thru Flu Shots Are Becoming Increasingly Popular

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- On the spot flu shots. It's a fast, convenient way to help fight the flu this season.

Gigi Barnett explains more than 1,000 people bypassed doctors' offices and headed to a drive-thru for their flu shots.

First come, first served.

"Little stick," said one patient. "It's doing good."

After a small prick from inside the car, this year's flu shot is done.

Instead of making a doctor's visit, more than 1,400 people got their flu shots from a drive-thru clinic at the Community College of Baltimore County's Essex campus.

It's the sixth year Medstar-Franklin Square Medical Center hosted the clinic and some patients drove up with questions about the flu and the shot.

"It's perfectly safe. You can't get sick from it. The vaccine has been tested; it's tried and true. It's much more important to get the vaccine than not," said Emergency Medicine Chair Jonathan Hansen.

"You never know. If you get sick, you probably would think, `Oh, I wish I would have gotten my flu shot,'" said flu shot patient Stanley Berkley.

"It's not going to hurt," said Rosie Jones.

That's a worry Jones doesn't want for her daughter. She's starting school soon and a shot gives Jones peace of mind. Plus, the whole family can get it at once.

"I get mine and hers at the same time," Jones said. "I need to be protected, she needs to be protected so it was important to me. We do it every year."

Doctors say last year's flu season was milder than most. They're hoping for the same this year but there's no guarantee. That's why they hosted this weekend's clinic.

Doctors recommend the flu shot for people six months and older.

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