Veteran flu clinic opens in Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The unofficial end of summer has come and gone. Soon it will be fall and flu season. Santa Barbara’s Department of Veteran Affairs is preparing for flu season offering free flu shots.

Any veteran in the VA system can get a flu shot for free. The shot will be administered drive-through style in the car, truck or motorcycle they arrive in. The purpose to limit exposure time for the veteran or staff along with COVID-19 guidelines.

Kay Elmerick, the site manager, said this is a normal flu shot like every other year. The shot will protect against the expected flu this season. And it’s not a vaccine for COVID-19.

The drive-through flu clinic is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s located at 4440 Calle Real in Santa Barbara next to the county elections office.