The West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District will hold two COVID-19-safe influenza clinics this fall.

By Ronni Newton

Influenza vaccines will be more important than ever for the community this year, and the West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District will be offering its first-ever drive-thru clinics to facilitate providing the shots in a COVID-19-safe manner.

Medical professionals are strongly encouraging the annual flu shot this, in order to avoid, to the extent possible, the “twindemic” of influenza and COVID-19 from impacting the healthcare system.

The WHBHD clinics are open to residents of West Hartford and Bloomfield who are 18 years of age or older.

The two drive-thru clinics being offered are:

• Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Bloomfield Department of Public Works facility at 21 Southwood Dr., Bloomfield.
• Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the West Hartford Department of Public Works facility at 25 Brixton Rd., West Hartford.

Pre-registration is required to attend either clinic, and can be done here through the Health District’s webpage on the Town of West Hartford website. There will be 100 vaccines given at each clinic, and no walk-ins/drive-ins will be permitted.

Pre-registration will close approximately two weeks before each clinic, the WHBHD said.

Once pre-registration is completed, an online medical screening questionnaire must also be completed, printed, and brought to the clinic along with a drivers license or other official identification and medical card for each person registered.

Participants are advised to wear a loose-fitting short-sleeve shirt. All are required to wear face masks.

Because this is a drive-thru event, the WHBHD advises participants to ensure that they have enough gas to accommodate the vehicle idling while in line.

According to the WHBHD, additional clinics will also be available at later dates.

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