Registered Nurse Jacqueline Bailey gives Montara Elementary School Principal Dave Finch a flu shot during a free drive-up clinic outside Barstow Community Hospital on Wednesday morning.
BARSTOW — For people on the go, the Barstow Community Hospital flu shot drive-up is the way to go.
"Half an hour in and out. That's great," Montara Elementary School Principal Dave Finch said after receiving a flu shot inside his vehicle.
Finch was among the approximately 200 people who took advantage of Wednesday morning's free drive-up flu shot clinic.
Although the hospital has been offering flu shot clinics for more than 20 years, spokesman John Rader said the drive-up concept is only in its third year.
"We decided to give the drive-up a try and it's been pretty popular and successful," Rader said.
Hospital Auxiliary volunteer Mary Mack was the first to greet those seeking the shots at the hospital's parking lot entrance.
"It's been bumper to bumper," Mack said. She has been a volunteer for 52 years and has worked at all of the flu shot clinics going back to the old hospital facility.
"They have been here shortly after 8 o'clock," she said. She quickly pointed out that the clinic started at 9 a.m. "There's always somebody who wants to be first in line."
Mack said she believes the free clinic will continue to be popular.
"There's a lot of people that need the shots, but don't have access," she said. "Even though a lot of people now have access to insurance that didn't use to, they don't have doctors. They use the emergency room as doctors."