Flu vaccinations are always important, but experts say they’re even more critical during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parker did its part by continuing its annual “Family and Friends” Flu Vaccine Clinic on October 2. The clinic was open to children four years and older and adults for a $35 fee.

In addition to the community clinic, employees and their families were also offered an opportunity to get vaccinations—free of cost for faculty, the usual $35 fee for family—on September 25. The clinic is normally held during school hours as a convenience to faculty, but due to the coronavirus in-building restrictions, the clinic was moved to after school.

The faculty flu shot clinic was held in the Webster parking lot as planned. However, the community clinic was moved into the Big Gym due to weather concerns. According to Parker Nurse Anne Nelson, roughly 125 vaccinations were administered at each event, for a total vaccination count between 250 and 265 people.

Junior Mason Gardner, along with his mother, was one of the 125 who went to get vaccinated on the October 2 clinic. He said that while no one likes getting shots, the experience was overall positive. “I got my temperature checked before I came in the building, then waited, and got the shot,” Gardner said. “There weren’t too many people there. It was a pretty quick process overall.”  Gardner estimates that both he and his mother were in and out within five to ten minutes.

Gardner also felt that the vaccination clinic was a safe, low-risk environment, despite the fact that it was staged in the Big Gym. “Everyone had their masks on, temperature was taken …  you had to exit through the main door, you couldn’t even exit through the door you came in through,” Gardner said. 

Upper School English teacher Cory Zeller says that she had a similar experience at the faculty vaccination. “I felt incredibly comfortable. The fact that it was outside, that there were dots on the ground separating us for six feet, that there were minimal points of contact with anyone that I didn’t already know. And the nurses there have worked at Parker, and they’ve always done the shot. So I was familiar with the people,” Zeller said.

Zeller’s daughter and husband also received their influenza vaccine. “I encouraged my husband to come with me because it would be an easy way to get it. And then I told Sloane at the last minute — she hates flu shots.”

Zeller says that had the school not provided the opportunity to receive a vaccination, she and her family would have gone elsewhere, but Zeller did feel more comfortable going to the school. 

“I was happy to not have to bring my child to the pediatrician when she’s not sick,” Zeller said. “Even going into a pharmacy this time of year can be high risk. So the fact that we could be outside, distanced, minimal contact, felt really safe.”

This year’s vaccinations were administered by two nurses from ISR Total Testing and Training, a company Nelson has partnered with for a number of years. “They usually have two nurses giving the shots and these folks are experts. You don’t feel a thing and it is quick,” Nelson said.

Overall, Nelson was satisfied with this year’s flu clinics. “I think it was a big success this year because people want to get flu shots before flu season,” Nelson said. “People appreciated being able to come to school and get the shot. No fuss, no muss.”