The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) has announced it will be holding another community-based H1N1 flu vaccine clinic at Millikan High School on Saturday, November 21, 2009 from 9 am to 4 pm.  This is in addition to the community-based H1N1 flu clinic being held tomorrow, November 7, 2009 at the Long Beach Convention Center. 

Due to the short supply of H1N1 flu vaccine nationally, it is critical that individuals understand that vaccine will only be provided at the community based clinics if they are in one of 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). 

H1N1 flu vaccine will also continue to be distributed to school-aged children (age 3 to 18) in cooperation with Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) at after-school clinics in coming weeks.  The next school aged child clinic will be held at Wilson High School on Tuesday, November 17, 2009.  Details will be provided to students and their families via LBUSD. Specific details regarding the above noted clinics will be announced in the next week.  The Health Department and LBUSD will continue to schedule clinics based on the availability of vaccine. 

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, feel free to the Health Department website at http://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.