Free H1N1 (Swine Flu) and regular flu shots in LA County through Nov 8

by wildcherry on Sunday, October 25th, 2009 | Deals, Hot

LA County Department of Health is giving free H1N1 and regular flu shots at locations around the city through Nov 8, 2009. People can select from nasal or shot for H1N1, shot for the regular flu. I got mine yesterday in Culver City, the line was around 2 hours long halfway through the day. I’d get there early to avoid the line build-up. For a family, assuming $25 per shot, this could be a huge savings (especially since in LA County H1N1 vaccine won’t be available in shot form until Nov).

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Health Officer, Dr. Jonathan E.
Fielding, today released the schedule for the first round of Public Health vaccine clinics, which will provide free H1N1 vaccine to residents who do not have health insurance or a regular source of health care, and are in a priority group.”Increasing amounts of H1N1 vaccine are expected to arrive in Los Angeles County on a weekly basis. Public Health’s vaccine clinics will provide vaccine free of charge to residents in the H1N1 vaccine priority groups who do not have health insurance or a regular source of health care,” said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Director and Health Officer.

“For those with health insurance and a regular source of health care, all of the more than 3,000 healthcare providers in the county who ordered H1N1 vaccine should receive it. Starting at the end of this week, these residents may wish to contact their doctor to find out when the H1N1 vaccine will be available to them.”

The priority groups for H1N1 vaccine are:
· Pregnant women
· People living with or caring for infants under six months of age
· Emergency medical services personnel and health care workers
· Children and young adults from six months through 24 years
· People aged 25 through 64 years with chronic medical conditions like heart or lung disease, asthma, diabetes, or weakened immune systems

Public Health’s H1N1 vaccine clinics will begin on October 23, and will have H1N1 vaccine in many formulations, including injectable flu shots, FluMist nasal spray, and thimerasol-free vaccine. A list of dates and locations can be found on the Public Health website at www.publichealth.lacounty.gov or by calling the LA County information line at 2-1-1 from any landline or cell phone. The vaccine clinic schedule will be released two weeks at a time.

Residents are urged to check back often if they do not immediately find a clinic that is conveniently located near them. Vaccine clinics will be scheduled from late October through at least December.

Influenza, more commonly known as the flu, causes approximately 36,000
deaths and more than 200,000 hospitalizations each year in the United
States. While the average case of H1N1 is no worse than other types of
seasonal flu, some individuals are at a higher risk for serious
complications. Since the spring, there have been 57 deaths in Los Angeles County attributed to H1N1.

“The best way to prevent the spread of flu is to wash your hands often; cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze; avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes; and get vaccinated,” Dr. Fielding said.

“If you are sick, stay home until at least 24 hours after the fever has gone away without the use of anti-fever medications. The same recommendation applies to children who go to school, daycare, or after-school programs.”

*Talk to your doctor about H1N1 vaccine if you have any of the following:*
· Severe allergy to chicken eggs
· Severe reaction to influenza vaccination in the past
· Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)
· Moderate-to-severe illness with a fever (wait until recovering before getting vaccine)
The viruses in the flu shot are inactive (killed) so you cannot get the flu from the flu shot. Some minor side effects could occur, usually lasting only one to two days. These include:
· Soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given
· Low-grade fever
· Aches or pain

The viruses in the vaccine nasal spray are weakened and cannot cause the flu. In children, side effects are usually mild and can include runny nose, wheezing, headache, vomiting, muscle aches or fever. In adults, side effects can include runny nose, headache, sore throat or cough.

Most cases of H1N1 and seasonal flu can be treated by staying home, getting plenty of rest, drinking plenty of fluids and treating fever and aches and pains with over- the-counter medication, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen (but not aspirin).

Residents should see a doctor if they have any of the following symptoms *along with* flu-like symptoms such as fever, coughing, tiredness, runny nose, etc:
*For children:*
· Fast breathing or trouble breathing
· Bluish skin color
· Not drinking enough fluids or stopping urinating
· Not waking up or not interacting
· Being so irritable that a child does not want to be held
· Flu-like symptoms that improve, but then return with fever and worse cough
· Fever with a rash

*For adults:*
· Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
· Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
· Sudden dizziness
· Confusion
· Severe or persistent vomiting

The Department of Public Health is committed to protecting and improving the health of the nearly 10 million residents of Los Angeles County. Through a variety of programs, community partnerships and services, Public Health oversees environmental health, disease control, and community and family health. Public Health comprises more than 4,000 employees and has an annual budget exceeding $750 million. To learn more about Public Health and the
work we do, please visit http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov or visit our YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/lapublichealth.

H1N1 Vaccine Clinic Schedule - Sorted by City 10/23/09-11/08-09
*SPA*
*Sup Dist*
*Date*
*Day*
*Location*
*Street*
*City*
*ZIP code*
*Hours of Operation*
1
5
10/27/09
Tue.
Acton Community Ctr
3248 Nickels Ave.
Acton
93510
10am-6pm
3
1
10/29/09
Thurs.
Memorial Park Rec. Ctr
340 N. Orange Place
Azusa
91702
11am-7pm
7
4
10/28/09
Wed
Performing Arts Center
12700 Center Court Dr S.
Cerritos
90703
1pm-9pm
6
2
10/27/09
Tue
El Camino College
1111 E. Artesia Blvd.
Compton
90221
9am-5pm
6
2
10/28/09
Wed
El Camino College
1111 E. Artesia Blvd.
Compton
90221
12pm-8pm
5
2
10/23/09
Fri.
Veterans Auditorium
4117 Overland Ave
Culver City
90230
9am-1pm
7
4
10/27/09
Tue
Downey Theatre
8435 Firestone Blvd.
Downey
90241
1pm-9pm
2
3
10/23/09
Fri.
Balboa SportsCenter
17015 Burbank Blvd.
Encino
91316
9am-5pm
2
3
10/24/09
Sat
Balboa SportsCenter
17015 Burbank Blvd.
Encino
91316
9am-5pm
2
3
10/25/09
Sun
Balboa SportsCenter
17015 Burbank Blvd.
Encino
91316
9am-5pm
2
5
11/03/09
Tue.
Glendale Civic Auditorium
1401 N Verdugo Rd.
Glendale
91208
9:30-3:30
2
5
10/24/09
Sat
Granada Hills Rec Ctr
16730 Chatsworth St.
Granada Hills
91344
9am-5pm
2
5
10/25/09
Sun
Granada Hills Rec Ctr
16730 Chatsworth St.
Granada Hills
91344
9am-5pm
7
4
11/04/09
Wed.
Human Resources Dept.
21815 Pioneer Blvd.
Hawaiian Gardens
90716
11am-7pm
7
1
11/05/09
Thurs
Salt Lake Park
3401 E. Florence Ave.
Huntington Park
90255
11am-7pm
3
1
10/24/09
Sat
Concourse Medical Ctr
18585 E. Gale Ave.
Industry
91748
9am-5pm
3
1
10/26/09
Mon.
Industry Hills Expo Center
16200 Temple Ave.
Industry
91744
9am-4pm
8
2
10/30/09
Fri
Hollywood Park
1050 S. Prairie Ave.
Inglewood
90301
9am-5:30pm
8
2
10/31/09
Sat
Hollywood Park
1050 S. Prairie Ave.
Inglewood
90301
9am-5:30pm
7
4
11/07/09
Sat,
Community Gym
15105 Alicante Rd.
La Mirada
90638
9am-5pm
4
3
10/24/09
Sat
Chevy Chase Rec Ctr
4165 Chevy Chase Dr.
Los Angeles
90039
9am-5pm
4
1
10/24/09
Sat
Lincoln Park Center
3501 Valley Blvd.
Los Angeles
90031
9am-5pm
6
2
10/24/09
Sat
Enterprise Park
13055 Clovis Ave.
Los Angeles
90059
9am-5pm
6
2
10/24/09
Sat
Harvard Rec Ctr
1535 W 62nd St.
Los Angeles
90047
9am-5pm
4
3
10/25/09
Sun
Chevy Chase Rec Ctr
4165 Chevy Chase Dr.
Los Angeles
90039
9am-5pm
4
1
10/25/09
Sun
Lincoln Park Center
3501 Valley Blvd.
Los Angeles
90031
9am-5pm
6
2
10/25/09
Sun
Enterprise Park
13055 Clovis Ave.
Los Angeles
90059
9am-5pm
6
2
10/25/09
Sun
Harvard Rec Ctr
1535 W 62nd St.
Los Angeles
90047
9am-5pm
6
2
10/29/09
Thur
Watts Labor Cmty Action Cmttee
10950 S. Central
Los Angeles
90059
9am-5pm
7
1
10/29/09
Thu
Salazar Park
3864 Whittier Blvd.
Los Angeles
90023
11am-7pm
6
2
10/30/09
Fri
Watts Labor Cmty Action Cmttee
10950 S. Central
Los Angeles
90059
9am-5pm
4
1
11/03/09
Tue.
Cal State University, LA-Gym.
5151 State University Dr.
Los Angeles
90032
9am-5pm
6
2
11/03/09
Tue
USC-Lyons Center
1026 W. 34th St.
Los Angeles
90089
9am-3pm
6
2
11/04/09
Wed
USC-Lyons Center
1026 W. 34th St.
Los Angeles
90089
9am-3pm
6
2
11/05/09
Thu
YMCA
9900 S. Vermont Ave
Los Angeles
90044
9am-5pm