ST. LOUIS — Free vaccination clinics are beginning across the St. Louis area as health officials prepare for the respiratory virus season and work to overcome questions about vaccines and how to get them.

Dr. Shephali Wulff, an infectious disease physician, said the clinics are more important than ever this year as skepticism fueled by conflicting information about vaccinations among federal officials has increased.

“The rhetoric that’s happening nationally is creating confusion and chaos about public health in general and about trusting science and medicine,” said Wulff, who is also SSM Health’s vice president of quality and safety.

On Friday the Jefferson County Health Department will host its first free drive-through flu vaccination clinic from 3 to 7 p.m. at its new headquarters, 15

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