Flu season is around the corner, and Gunnison County Health and Human Services (HHS) is once again teaming up with local partners to host flu vaccine clinics. This year’s clinics will be held at both ends of the valley, offering community members convenient options to get protected.
“When more people get vaccinated, we all benefit,” said Joni Reynolds, Assistant County Manager and Director of Gunnison County HHS. “Flu shots protect not just individuals, but families, neighbors and our most vulnerable community members. It’s one of the ways we can take care of each other.”
Influenza, often simply called the flu, once had such a strong hold on people’s lives it was nicknamed the grippe — from the French word gripper, meaning “to seize.” Thanks to advances in medicine and vaccines, it no longer has that same grip, especially when communities stay on top of yearly flu shots.
Each year, the flu vaccine is updated based on the strains scientists predict will be most common. A yearly shot gives your immune system a “sneak peek” so it’s ready to fight off those viruses. Even if you still get the flu, the vaccine helps reduce symptoms and lowers the risk of severe illness or hospitalization. And when more people are vaccinated, the whole community benefits — fewer people get sick, and there’s less strain on local healthcare systems.
More than a shot
Flu vaccine clinics do more than protect individuals — they prepare the community for emergencies. Gunnison County HHS uses these events to practice setting up mass dispensing clinics, a skill that proved invaluable during the pandemic.
“Because of years of practicing with flu clinics, we had a strong foundation when Covid hit,” Reynolds said. “We knew how to organize, how to set up and how to keep things running smoothly, and thus we were able to scale up to meet the entire community need.”
Planning for the vaccine clinic begins in mid-summer and follows the Incident Command System (ICS), the same structure used by emergency response agencies nationwide. ICS designates section leads — for public information, safety, planning, logistics, operations, and finance — all reporting to an incident commander. This system ensures clinics are efficient, safe and adaptable.
After each clinic, staff gather for an “after action report” to reflect on what went well and where improvements can be made. Collaboration is key: roles are also filled by Gunnison County Emergency Management, Gunnison Valley Health, Crested Butte Fire Protection District and the local Red Cross.
“Practicing together year after year makes a real difference,” Reynolds said. “When we needed to respond during the pandemic, these partnerships meant we could move faster and more effectively.”
By coming to these clinics, residents not only protect themselves and their families, they also continue to help Gunnison County HHS strengthen its emergency readiness.
“Offering clinics in different parts of the valley makes it easier for people to access vaccines while also giving our team practice in different settings,” Reynolds said. “We encourage everyone to come through, roll up their sleeve and help us keep Gunnison County prepared.”
2025 Flu Vaccine Clinics
Gunnison
• Sept. 30, 3–6 p.m.
• The Health and Human Services parking lot, W. Virginia Ave.
• For the drive-thru option, please enter the clinic off W. Virginia Ave. from N. Wisconsin Ave.
• For the walk-up option, please park in the main HHS parking lot off N. Spruce St.
Crested Butte
• October 9, 3-5:30 p.m.
• Queen of All Saints Parish Hall, 401 Sopris Ave.
• Walk-in only.
• Limited parking available in front of the hall and around town.
(Source: Gunnison County)
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