13 WTHR IndianapolisFlu shot season starting early

Flu shot season starting early

Updated:
In these pictures from last year, drivers take advantage of drive-through vaccinations. In these pictures from last year, drivers take advantage of drive-through vaccinations.
Friday was the first of the Visiting Nurse Service drive through's. Friday was the first of the Visiting Nurse Service drive through's.
In a matter of minutes it's all over. In a matter of minutes it's all over.
INDIANAPOLIS -

You can protect yourself from getting the flu without getting out of your car

Visiting Nurse Service at St. Francis began flu vaccinations Friday morning for the eighth year in a row. You drive up, take care of some paperwork, get your shot and be on your way.

VNS started early this year hoping to get the attention of parents already in the school vaccination mode. The convenience is great for mothers who won't have to take their children out of the car.

The drive through is also a plus if you have older family members.
 
The shot includes the three strands the center for decease control believes will spread this season. The H1N1 virus claimed hundreds of lives last year.

Heather Hughet with the Visiting Nurse Service says you need to be as healthy as possible when you get vaccinated. "As long as you don't have a fever then you should be able to have the shot," she said.

"We do not allow pregnant women to get the flu mist because the flu mist is a live intra nasal vaccine, so it's introducing a small amount of the live vaccine into your body. but otherwise most people are able to get the vaccine on the day unless you have an allergy to eggs," said Hughet.

Adult flu shots cost $35. It's $30 dollars for Children 6 to 35 Months old. The FluMist and Thimerosal-Free doses are $40 and the Pneumonia Shot is $70 Medicare clients are eligible in most cases too. 

The service is also available on Saturday.