By Ken Stickney

ken.stickney@panews.com.

Port Arthur public health workers and volunteers lined the 400 block of Austin Avenue on Monday morning, administering flu shots in a “drive-thru” program.

Judith Smith, director of the Public Health Department, said traffic was especially brisk early Monday morning — cars began lining up at 7:30 a.m. — and she anticipated additional heavy traffic during the lunch hour.

“At periods we have been really busy,” she said. She expected her staff and volunteers from Lamar’s licensed vocational nurse program and Port Arthur Memorial High School to see about 250 arms extended from vehicles that worked their way through two lines in front of the Public Health building.

Essentially, patients paid $10 for their shots, moved through stations and rolled up their sleeves and got their flu shots without exiting their vehicles.

“A lot of people who come here are repeaters,” she said, people who’ve participated in the annual effort before. Oct. 1 marks the start of the flu season.

Vehicles entered at Procter Street, where drivers and passengers received information about the vaccine and signed consent forms. At four tables, medical personnel explained the procedure, answered questions and administered shots.

Vehicles continued down Austin and received information packets and water.

Smith said student volunteers accompanied nurses, carrying trays with prep materials and bandages.

Volunteers made certain that customers put their vehicles into “park” before getting their injections, a necessary precaution, Smith said.

She said the health department orders about 1,200 vaccines a year. Shots will be available inside the building until supplies run out.