For immediate release:
Placer County Beginning Seasonal Flu Vaccine Clinics Early This Year
Placer County Health and Human Services will begin providing seasonal flu shots a little earlier this year, as the community prepares to make vaccines available for both seasonal flu and the new H1N1 flu.
The county’s first seasonal flu vaccination clinic will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at the Maidu Community Center in Roseville from 9 AM to noon. The second one will be on Thursday, Oct. 1 at the Multipurpose Senior Center in Auburn from 9:30 AM to noon. Other seasonal flu clinics are planned for North Lake Tahoe, Roseville, Colfax, Lincoln and Foresthill; a schedule is included here.
“A bout with seasonal flu can leave you or your family members feeling miserable with fever, cough, runny nose and muscle pain, and unable to go to school or work. Getting a flu shot is an excellent way to reduce your chances of getting seasonal flu, which can be a very serious disease for those at greatest risk,” said Dr. Mark Starr, Director of Placer County Community Health and Clinics.
The vaccine being offered helps provide protection against seasonal flu, which kills approximately 36,000 Americans each year, primarily older people. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against influenza virus infection. “That's why it's better to get vaccinated early in the fall, before the flu season really gets under way,” Dr. Starr stressed. “In addition, in order to best protect yourself from flu and other respiratory infections, you should avoid people who are sick, wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner, cover your cough, and stay home if you become sick.”
The County will also schedule H1N1 immunization clinics when that vaccine becomes available later this fall. The federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC) will set the priorities for groups to receive the H1N1 vaccine first. Dates and details about local H1N1 vaccine clinics will be provided on the county web site and to news media and community groups when information is available. Seasonal flu shots will not protect you against the new H1N1 flu. According to Dr. Starr, “Getting both seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccine will be very important for many people.”
The upcoming low-cost seasonal flu clinics sponsored by Placer County will be targeted particularly for those in the risk groups identified below. However flu shots will be available to anyone through these clinics. These clinics are conveniently located in a number of Placer County communities.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and California Department of Public Health recommend that the following groups receive seasonal flu vaccinations:
- Adults aged 50 and older.
- All women who are or will be pregnant during influenza season.
- All children 6 months to 18 years of age.
- Residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities.
- Healthcare workers with direct patient care. New state law requires acute care hospitals to offer vaccine to all employees free of charge.
- Individuals with underlying chronic medical conditions.
- Individuals who live with or care for an elderly individual, a child less than 5 years of age, or a person with chronic medical conditions.
Children younger than nine years of age getting a flu vaccine for the first time will need two doses of flu vaccine. This year in addition to flu injections, Placer County has available limited amounts of vaccine that can be administered by nasal spray rather than by injection for those who meet medical guidelines.
A schedule of the County’s flu shot clinics is available on line at www.placer.ca.gov, and will be updated regularly. Residents can also call the County’s flu hotline (530-889-7161) to hear a recorded message. Flu shots are $20. The cost may be reduced based on income (sliding fee scale). There is no charge to MediCare members with Part B who can show their MediCare cards and who are not enrolled in an HMO plan. MediCare patients enrolled in a HMO must either pay $20 or see their primary care physician.
Two drive-through clinics are planned, on Oct. 8 in Auburn, and on Oct. 16 at Sierra College. Since patients do not need to leave their vehicles, drive-through clinics are particularly convenient for people with mobility challenges.
Here is the list of flu shot clinics sponsored by Placer County Health and Human Services:
· Tuesday, Sept. 29 in Roseville, 9 AM to Noon, at the Maidu Community Center, 1550 Maidu Drive.
· Thursday, Oct. 1 in Auburn, 9:30 AM to noon, at the Multipurpose Senior Center, 11577 E Avenue in Auburn.
· Tuesday, Oct. 6 in Kings Beach, 9 AM to 11:30 AM at the North Tahoe Fire Protection District Station in Kings Beach (#52), 288 North Shore Blvd. (Intersection Hwy. 267 and North Lake Blvd.).
· Tuesday, Oct. 6 in Tahoe City, 1:30 PM to 4 PM at the North Tahoe Fire Protection District Station in Tahoe City (#51), 300 North Lake Blvd. (Hwy. 28).
· Thursday, Oct. 8 in Auburn, drive-through clinic from 9 AM to noon at the Gold Country Fairgrounds. Immunization recipients can remain in their cars. Attendees should come to the Fairgate Street entrance off Auburn Folsom Road.
· Tuesday, Oct. 13 in Colfax, 9 AM to 11:30 AM at the Sierra Vista Community Center, 55 School Street.
· Friday, Oct. 16 in Rocklin, drive-through clinic from 9 AM to noon at the Sierra College Parking Lot H & I on the East Campus, 5000 Rocklin Road, in Rocklin. Immunization recipients can remain in their cars.
· Tuesday, Oct. 20 in Auburn, 10 AM to 1 PM at the Multipurpose Senior Center at 11577 E Avenue.
· Tuesday, Oct. 20 in Foresthill, 9 AM to 11:30 AM at the Foresthill Veterans Memorial Hall.
· Thursday, Oct. 22 in Lincoln, 9 AM to 11:30 AM at the Lincoln Veterans Memorial Hall, 541 5th Street.
· Tuesday, Oct. 27 in Auburn, 10 AM to 1 PM at the Multipurpose Senior Center, 11577 E Avenue.
· Thursday, Oct. 29 in Roseville, 9 AM to noon at the Maidu Community Center, 1550 Maidu Drive.
Placer County Health and Human Services will continue to provide flu information at the county web site, www.,placer.ca.gov or by calling the flu line, 530-889-7161. The web site includes links to considerable information about H1N1 and other flu-related issues.