Cold and flu season is here and people are still lining up to get their flu shots at local clinics.

Staff and organizers at flu shot clinics are still seeing people out to get their vaccines. Meantime, local physicians agree and said they have seen people still show an interest in getting their Covid booster shot in addition to their flu shot this season.

Several senior citizens spent their morning's preparing for flu season by getting their annual vaccine at the Union City Senior Center.


Mary Kitlinger, a volunteer said, "You want to make sure they are protected and anyone they may be related or or visiting are protected or any children they may be around."


The senior center has been hosting this clinic for years and organizers say it's important that people have access to getting their annual vaccinations.


Laura Spade, the Director of the Union City Senior Center said, "Cold and flu season, a lot of times they think it's just a little cold, it's just a little cough, we like the make sure everyone is protected, so the more people that re vaccinated in the community settings, it's just better for everyone."


Meantime, doctors said they have seen an increased interest in patients wanting both their flu and Covid booster at the same time this year.


Dr. Brad Fox MD, FAAFP, a physician at AHN Saint Vincent said,  "People are extremely interested in getting the flu shot, the Covid shot, even the RSV vaccine. There's been a lot of interest in it. Do we have them in stock? Can we give it to them? Can we give it to them at the same time? Last year people were hesitate. Did they want to flu shot? Did they want the Covid shot? This year we get them in, they go out the door."

While there's no perfect time to get the flu shot, Dr. Fox said sooner is better than later especially with the holidays approaching. "So getting it sooner at this point makes a lot of sense than waiting until November and December. Because if you get it in December it may not kick in until January or February and if you are getting together for your holidays, you may have just the beginnings of the immunity kicking it and you may carry it with you, you may not get really sick with it but you may give it to someone else."

Dr. Fox also said that about 80-90 percent of his patients have been getting both the flu and Covid shots together and said he has been seeing an interest in people getting their pneumonia shots as well.