NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Metro Public Health officials held drive-thru flu shot events on Thursday that they hope will protect people against the virus, while also helping the health department prepare for a possible COVID-19 vaccine.
The event was held at the COVID-19 testing site in Antioch, which smaller drive-thru testing events at public health offices.
"As we go into flu season we want to make sure everybody is as protected as they can be," Metro Public Health Department spokesperson Brian Todd said.
But the events are also a chance for public health officials to test how they will distribute a COVID-19 vaccine if one becomes available.
"It was a test for us," Todd said. "At some point when the vaccine for COVID is available, we want to do something similar and that type of approach...it's really just to be able to see how you can handle the traffic flow, how you can make sure that you have the supplies that you need and are readily available."
Todd said there's still no word on when a vaccine could be available.
"It could be a number of months before a vaccine is that available for the general population," he said. "But [this event] does give a bit of a snapshot of how this will run at the point we get the vaccine and start offering it."
