After holding three successful clinics last week to provide H1N1 flu vaccinations to the community, the Long Beach Health Department recently announced it has scheduled one additional clinic for students and another for the community at large.
The clinic for students (aged 3-18) to receive the vaccine will be held next Tuesday, November 17, at Wilson High School
The clinic for the community at-large will be held on Saturday, November 21, at Millikan High School. The Health Department doles out vaccinations to people who fall into the following categories:
- All individuals between the age of 6 months and 24 years of age
- Caretakers of infants under 6 months of age
- Health care workers with direct patient care
- Pregnant women
- Adults from age 25 to age 64 with a high risk medical condition (such as lung or heart disease, etc).
These clinics are in addition to two that were held for students last week on the campuses of Cabrillo High and Jordan High, and one for the community that was held last Saturday at the Long Beach Convention Center.
Dr. Helene Calvet of the Health Department estimates that about 2,300 people were treated at the public clinic on Saturday.
“It’s been going very well so far,” she said in a phone interview today.
Dr. Calvet indicated that the additional clinics have been scheduled due to a surplus in vaccines left over from previous clinics. Long Beach received a limited amount of shipments and there were concerns that shortages would occur. That has not been the case so far, although Dr. Calvet says she is unsure when additional shipments will arrive.
The Health Department also provides this list of healthy tips to avoid contracting the virus:
- Wash hands with soap and water or a hand sanitizer frequently,
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick,
- Stay home from work or school if you are sick,
- Cover mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze,
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, and
- Eat healthy food, drink plenty of water, take vitamins, exercise, get plenty of rest, do not smoke, and avoid alcoholic beverages.