WATCHING drive-through testing stations for COVID-19 on the news gave staff at Loxley Medical Practice a brilliant idea.
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They decided to set up a drive-through flu shot clinic in the medical centre's driveway, encouraging patients to get immunised while minimising contact with others.
"I thought about the drive-through testing they were doing for coronavirus in Sydney and thought why can't we do it here," senior partner Dr Jonathan Corbett-Jones said.
"They drive in, don't have to get out of the car or touch anything and are kept safe."
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Dr Corbett-Jones said they did a one-day trial last week with clients driving in the Seymour Street entrance, receiving their shot and then driving out via Keppel Street.
"We got 60 cars, often with both mister and missus in the car getting an injection, in just one afternoon," he said.
"We did 60 cars, we could have easily done 80 to 100."
Dr Corbett-Jones said staff were conscious of avoiding any build-up in traffic so they timed the appointments for just three cars every 10 minutes.
"As it turns out, we could have easily done four or five every 10 minutes," he said.
Even last week's wet weather did nothing to deter patients from the clinic.
"They (staff) put on a jacket and they got car after car," Dr Corbett-Jones said. "It was great, it worked so well."
They (staff) put on a jacket and they got car after car," Dr Corbett-Jones said. "It was great, it worked so well.
- Dr Jonathan Corbett-Jones
The uptake for drive-through vaccinations has been so high that the first 400 vaccines the surgery received have all been allocated.
And the drive-through clinic which has operated on Tuesday and Wednesday this week will also be open on Thursday.
Dr Corbett-Jones said while the service was initially offered to patients over 65 and others in high risk categories it has now been opened up to everyone. Appointments must be made at the practice.
He encouraged everyone to get vaccinated, saying that the current advice was to get vaccinated early.
Dr Corbett-Jones said the government was this year pushing for children to also get vaccinated due to fears an outbreak of flu alongside the coronavirus could quickly overwhelm hospitals.
Barbara Robson, of Bathurst, used the drive-through service on Tuesday.
"It is absolutely fantastic, it's so easy," she said.
"I'd encourage everyone to come and get it done."
