By PHILIP GURSKY
President
Los Alamos Heart Council

As the Coordinator for the Drive-Thru Flu Shot Clinic, held on Oct. 23 at the back parking lot of UNMLA, sponsored by the Los Alamos Heart Council and the Los Alamos Medical Center, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people who made it possible to have a smooth experience for hundreds of people getting flu shots, whether arriving by vehicle, bicycle or on foot.

LAMC shot coordinators Jacqui Carroll and Joyce Richins, CEO John Whiteside and the wonderful crew of LAMC volunteer nurses and other employees who were efficient and cheerful. I apologize for not being able to name them all individually here, but they come year after year to help.

UNM-LA Chancellor Cindy Rooney and her staff were gracious and helpful. As was Trey Pereyra from Los Alamos Public Schools rental property office. Thanks to LA County Emergency Manager Beverley Simpson and County Traffic and Streets Department Manager Juan Raul and Project Manager Richard Marquez, as well as Commander Oliver Morris from LAPD for providing manpower, equipment and supplies to assist traffic flow.

My appreciation goes to Dr. Carolyn Linnebur and the administrative staff at MANNM for yearly posting all the hundreds of shots into the state vaccine registration system. James Cline at Aspen Copies is unfailing, timely and precise with signage and information services. Carol Clark at LA Daily Post and Maire O’Neal at the Los Alamos Reporter are very civic minded and always generously promote and advertise our many events.

I particularly wanted to thank my pre-clinic and clinic day volunteer crew who helped set up and distribute consent and information forms, assist traffic control and break down after the clinic. School Board Member Erin Green, County Councilor David Izraelevitz, LA County Health Council Member Cameron Counter, Heart Council Board Member Amy Birnbaum and her husband Ed, James and Frances Knudson, Ellen Mills, Stuart Brown, David Sutton, and last, but not least, my brother-in law, Rick Bolton, who all contributed to make this year’s clinic a smooth and efficient affair.

For all the hundreds of people who came out for shots, thank you for doing your part in keeping yourself and the community more safe and healthy.