News ReleaseCity of Long Beach Public Information Office
333 W. Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802

10/28/2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE #CM: 102809
Subject :

Health Department Announces Initial H1N1 Flu Vaccine Distribution Plan; Community H1N1 Flu Vaccine Clinic on Saturday, Nov. 7
Contact :Michael Johnson, Acting Public Information Officer    562.570.4012
The City of Long Beach Health Department has received its initial shipment of H1N1 flu vaccine from the State of California.  This will allow the Health Department to commence the distribution of the H1N1 flu vaccine to Long Beach residents.  Initial H1N1 flu vaccine will be provided first to the highest risk groups who may become most ill from H1N1, pursuant to guidance from the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Since the CDC has indicated that this strain of flu is primarily impacting infants and children, pregnant women, and individuals with health conditions between the age of 25 and 64, these groups will be the primary focus of the initial distribution of the H1N1 flu vaccine.   

The Health Department received approximately 20,000 doses of H1N1 flu vaccine in this initial shipment, which will be distributed to hospitals, youth through school based clinics being offered in coordination with Long Beach Unified School District and to targeted populations in the community at large.  "The initial delivery of H1N1 flu vaccine is not sufficient to provide vaccine to all groups right away; we have requested additional vaccine, and we will be continuing to provide vaccine in the coming months dependent upon its availability," said Dr. Helene Calvet, City Health Officer.  “We anticipate that the Health Department and other health providers will continue to receive shipments of H1N1 flu vaccine as it becomes available.  Over 150 local health care providers have registered to receive the H1N1 vaccine.  If your initial call to your physician indicated they did not yet have vaccine, you should follow up with them in coming weeks to determine if they have received their shipment,” Dr. Calvet said.

Clinics in school sites for school-aged children will commence the first week of November. In addition, the Health Department will be holding the first of several community based H1N1 flu vaccine immunization clinics at the Long Beach Convention Center on Saturday, November 7, 2009 from 9 am to 4 pm.  Other public health and community health information will also be provided.  

Initial groups targeted to receive the H1N1 flu vaccine at this time include:

  • 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 contact
  • Pregnant women, 
  • Adults from age 25 to age 64 with a high-risk medical condition (such as lung or heart disease, etc). 

In order for all of us to join in the fight to prevent flu in Long Beach, the Health Department also recommends that everyone practice healthy habits to prevent from getting or transmitting the flu:

  • 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.
 

For further information, visit the Health Department website at www.longbeach.gov/health, or call the Immunization Program at 562.570.4212, or call the 24-hour Public Health Information line at 562.570.4499.

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