As More Communities ‘Open Up,’ Seize Opportunities to Conduct Vaccination Clinics

News that COVID-19 cases and related deaths are falling in some parts of the country coincides with fall festival season—meaning more of your prospective patients are going to be milling around blocked-off Main Street perusing crafts and sipping on apple cider. With the pandemic still simmering, however, such community events are also a timely opportunity to offer not only COVID-19 vaccine, but also flu shots. Consensus is that we dodged a “twindemic” last year largely because of masking, hygiene, and social distancing recommendations associated with SARS-CoV-2. This year things are much more open, however, so in spite of progress with the pandemic the country may actually be at greater risk for the double whammy of flu and COVID. The Kanawha–Charleston (West Virginia) County Health Department recognized this and pitched a tent in the midst of an event called the Charleston Boulevard Rod Run & Doo Wop to offer COVID-19 and flu shots to unvaccinated passersby. Scan your community bulletin boards to see what events are coming up, and consider whether there’s an opportunity to promote your business while offering vaccines that could save lives. To get other insights into effective ways to reach the community by participating with the community, read Expert Perspectives on Grassroots Marketing in Urgent Care in the JUCM archive.