With the recent spike in confirmed flu cases and flu-related deaths, Kaiser Permanente offered a free flu shot day for its members Saturday in San Diego.
Thousands of people packed into four hospitals across the county to inoculate themselves against the flu.
In San Diego County, there have been 91 flu-related deaths so far this season. The number is well above the eight deaths recorded last year.
"It has been bad this season like 91 people had died, and it's a bad season so I told my husband we need to come down here to get the flu shot,” patient Tara McNeal told NBC 7.
The County Health and Human Services Agency wants residents to get the flu vaccine. Those who are under five years old or over 65 years old are especially vulnerable. As are pregnant women and people with long-term medical conditions like asthma, diabetes, blood disorders or lung disease.
"[The] most important thing is to get people vaccinated," said Kaiser Permanente Doctor Eshwa Ahmadi.
On Saturday, anyone with Kaiser Permanente insurance can get a free flu shot at the locations in La Mesa, Otay Mesa, San Marcos and Vandever from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - no appointment necessary.
If this Saturday event is not convenient, you can find clinic locations and times for Kaiser Permanente at kp.org/flu.
About 70 percent of the people who died from the flu this season were not vaccinated, Pouya Afshar, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Integrated Healthcare Alliance said earlier this week.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it takes two weeks for immunity to develop.
