Baltimore County Health Workers Host Flu Shot Clinic

BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) -- Baltimore County health workers are hosting their annual flu shot clinic this weekend. The shots are free.

Gigi Barnett explains the county says vaccinating thousands of people against the virus is priceless.

On a Saturday morning at Baltimore County's health department headquarters, a flu shot is at the top of the to do list.

This weekend, Baltimore County hosted its annual free flu shot clinic. Health workers at seven locations gave the shots on a first-come, first-served basis.

Baltimore County health officer Dr. Gregory Branch says it takes about two weeks for the body to become resistant to the flu after getting the shot---that's just in time for the start of flu season.

"We recognize that so many people--if they are infected by the flu--we know these people could potentially get sick and sometimes die," said Dr. Branch.

Mostly everyone at the clinic will receive a flu shot this weekend and that's because there's a distribution delay of the FluMist.

The Centers for Disease Control says researchers worked to make sure this year's flu vaccine worked better than last year's, which put thousands at risk of getting the virus, because it was only about 13% effective. The flu shot is usually about 50-60% effective against the virus.

Some patients say it's better to get the flu shot now instead of the flu later.

Baltimore County's health department had about 4,000 doses of the flu vaccine. It plans to give out all of them.