No one wants to be sick for the holidays, and making time to get a flu shot can be challenging during such a busy time of year. The flu strategy team at Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center made it easy for members and the community to get their entire family vaccinated before the holidays.

Tree lightings and holiday events are a must-do for many families in December. The local flu team attended community events to offer no-cost flu vaccinations for all attendees. The Downey flu team administered more than 100 flu shots and flu-mist vaccinations during the Pico Rivera Holiday Tree Lighting and the Watts Winter Wonderland events in Southern California. Though some attendees were hesitant to receive a shot, news of the FluMist nasal spray option was very well received — especially by the children in attendance.

“Providing vaccinations at these events demonstrates that Kaiser Permanente cares about the health and well-being of our community, not just those who are members,” said Mitzi Williams, consulting services director for the Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center. “We don’t expect that everyone can come to a Kaiser Permanente facility to get vaccinated, so we want to bring the vaccine to them.”

In a final push to get members vaccinated before the holidays, the Downey flu team hosted a festive, holiday-themed flu drive-thru in early December in the parking lot of the Kaiser Permanente Garden Medical Offices.

Even Santa, his elves, and the Grinch were in attendance celebrating as more than 630 people received their annual flu vaccinations.

The efforts by the Downey flu team provided preventive care to reduce flu and ensure that more members of the community had a happy and healthy holiday season.

To learn more about the flu vaccine, or to schedule a vaccination, visit kp.org.