STOCKTON – Although the number of people getting influenza has been dropping off, national, state and local data all show that people are continuing to get sick and hospitalizations are still occurring. Health officials are hopeful that the H1N1 vaccination campaign to date has made an impact on the progression of the pandemic.
However, pandemics are very unpredictable and it is likely that there will again be a new wave of influenza cases in the next few months. The month of January is a window of opportunity to get vaccinated in order to help prevent the flu from spreading further in the late winter or early spring and causing even more illness, hospitalization, and death. Now is the time, during this disease lull, for people who are not yet vaccinated to do so.
With vaccine supplies improving, San Joaquin County Public Health Services is making the H1N1 vaccine available to people of all ages who are residents of San Joaquin County starting next week. We encourage all adults to call their doctors to find out if they have the vaccine or to take advantage of our expanded clinic schedules to get their H1N1 vaccine.
Special H1N1 influenza Vaccine Clinics will be held on the following days and locations from 9 a.m. until noon :
•Wednesday, Jan. 6: Manteca Senior Center 295 Cherry Lane, Manteca
•Wednesday, Jan. 13: Ripon Community Center, 334 W. Fourth Street, Ripon
•Thursday, Jan. 14, Garden Acres Community Center, 607 Bird Avenue, East Stockton
•Wednesday, Jan. 20: Oak Park Senior Center, 730 E. Fulton Street, Central Stockton
•Wednesday, Jan. 27: Arnold Rue Community Center, 5758 Lorraine Avenue, North Stockton
•Availability of H1N1 influenza vaccinations through the regular Public Health Services Clinic sites will also continue as follows:
•Tuesday mornings at the Stockton clinic (1601 E. Hazelton Ave.) from 8 to 11 a.m., and at the Stockton, Manteca, Lodi, and Tracy clinics during the normal Immunization Clinics (see attached immunization clinic schedule).
Seasonal influenza vaccine is also available at Public Health Services clinic sites during any of our usual Immunization Clinics but will not be available at the special H1N1 Vaccine clinics. We have a good supply of the Seasonal influenza nasal mist for people 2 years through 49 years of age with no underlying medical conditions, and a limited supply of injectable for all others.
Resources for updated information on availability of H1N1 vaccine or other H1N1 information are:
•1.Public Health Services Influenza webpage on its website, www.sjcphs.org
•2. Recorded message line at 209-469-8200, extension 2# for English and 3# for Spanish.
•3. For further information, individuals may call the following numbers at Public Health
Services:
• For general questions or questions about the vaccine, call 468-3862;
•For medical questions, call 468-3822.
Always take these precautionary measures to help protect against acquiring influenza viruses: 1) Wash your hands often with soap and water or use alcohol based sanitizers; 2) Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your sleeve, when you cough or sneeze; and 3) Stay home if you are sick until you are free of a fever for 24 hours; and 4) Get vaccinated.
