H1N1 Flu Information

Where Can I Get an H1N1 Flu Vaccination?

Any Placer County resident may receive the free H1N1 Vaccination, including children who need their second (booster) dose of vaccine.

All residents are encouraged to be vaccinated against H1N1 flu, and those in the “target groups” for this vaccine are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated. The target groups, as identified by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, include:

• Pregnant women;
• People who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months of age;
• Health care and emergency medical personnel;
• Anyone from 6 months through 24 years of age;
• Anyone from 25 through 64 years of age with certain chronic medical conditions or a weakened immune system.

Some physicians in the community have received additional vaccine in both nasal and injectable formulations, so individuals may wish to contact their healthcare provider to see if they have vaccine available.  Additionally, some pharmacies in our community are providing the H1N1 vaccine (Note: an "Administration Fee" may be charged).
    

Novel H1N1 (also referred to as "pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus" or “swine flu”) is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. It is currently active in Placer County and is anticipated to circulate even more during the fall and into next year. This flu is spreading easily from person to person – some estimates predict that as many as 100,000 Placer residents could become infected within the next year.    

As with most jurisdictions in our country, H1N1 Flu activity is wide spread in Placer County. 

For current details, read the Weekly H1N1 Influenza Surveillance Report. 

Archived Weekly H1N1 Influenza Surveillance Reports.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or cough into your elbow. Throw used tissue in the trash.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

• Anyone sick with a flu-like illness should remain home from work, school, and community activities except to obtain medical care or other necessities and should limit contact with other people while at home. Once an individual is feeling better and has stopped all fever-reducing medicine, they should continue to monitor their temperature and remain home until they have been free of fever for at least 24 hours

The symptoms of H1N1 (swine) flu in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with H1N1 flu. H1N1 flu is a relatively mild illness for most individuals -- the vast majority of people won’t need medical care and will recover at home without testing or antiviral treatment. However, H1N1 flu can result in more serious illness in those at higher risk for complications, including children younger than 5 years old, adults 65 years and older, pregnant women, persons with certain chronic medical conditions (such as lung or heart disease, diabetes, or kidney disease), those with immunosuppressive conditions, and persons younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy. If you are in one of these higher risk categories, consider contacting your health care provider to discuss your level of risk and to develop a plan for what you should do if you get flu symptoms.

If you become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you should stay home until you have been free of fever for at least 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medicine). If you have severe illness or you are at high risk for flu complications, contact your health care provider or seek medical care immediately. Your health care provider will determine whether flu testing or treatment is needed.

For more information, read the Placer County letter to residents by clicking here.