SAN ANTONIO – Early voting ends Friday.
However, in an effort to provide protection during election time, San Antonio Metropolitan Health District and other immunization partners will offer flu vaccines at various polling sites.
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The effort to vaccinate during this time will be the first of its kind in Texas.
In addition to providing flu shots, health officials will also offer Tdap vaccines, which protect against pertussis or whooping cough, among other diseases.
"You're killing two birds with one stone," Beverly Sameri, who got her flu shot after voting at the Northside Activity Center, said. "It's one place. One time. One shot deal. And you're ready to go."
Ronny Walker voted last week, but still went back to the polling place for his shot.
"I didn't want to catch the flu for one thing. I didn't want to catch any virus. I don't want to give out any virus," he said.
Carol Schliesinger, public relations manager for Metro Health, said polling locations are appropriate spots for vaccination clinics, because the demographic of voters is similarly to one part of the population who needs flu shots the most.
"A big segment of them are seniors, and those are also the same group of our population that are most susceptible to complications associated with the flu," Schliesinger said.
The vaccines will be offered at the following polling sites beginning Friday, Nov. 2:
- St. Benedict's Catholic Church (cafeteria), 4535 Lord Road
- Northside Activity Center (parking lot), 7001 Culebra
- Castle Hills Municipal Building (fire station building), 209 Lemonwood Drive
- Walgreen's parking lot across from South Park Mall, 7019 S. Zarzamora
The clinics will run during polling times, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates, thousands of people die from flu-related complications each year. The CDC recommends flu vaccines as the best way to protect against the flu.