The Department of Health and Human Services will once again be holding its annual flu shot clinics. Flu shots are available for people aged 60 years and older. Flu shots are also available for those age 18-59 who have a long-term health condition such as:
Diabetes
Asthma, cystic fibrosis or other lung disease
Heart, kidney or liver disease
Severe anemia or other blood disorders
A weakened immune system due to HIV/AIDS, long-term drug therapy or cancer treatment.
Flu shots are also available for pregnant women and caregivers to infants and seniors. Please see the attached schedule for a listing of clinic locations and times. 2011 Flu Shot Clinic Schedule
First Human Case of West Nile Virus in California for 2011
The California Department of Public Health reported that a man in Santa Barbara County is the first confirmed human case of West Nile Virus infection in California this year. The Long Beach Department of Health & Human Services would like to remind residents to take precautions to help prevent mosquito breeding areas and to help prevent mosquito bites. Please see our West Nile Virus Webpage for useful information.
Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Booster Shots
The City’s Health Department is joining in the State of California Department of Public Health campaign to encourage parents to not wait until the last minute to get the pertussis vaccine for school age children. With pertussis at the highest rates since 1947, and in order to prevent transmission of this disease (and deaths) across the state, this vaccination (also known as Tdap) is a new law this year in California. The law requires all middle-high school students to have the Tdap booster. The Long Beach Department of Health has been working closely with Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) since late last year to advise parents of students in grades 7 –12 of this new immunization requirement, and that it will be in effect when students return to school this fall. Parents have been receiving letters and weekly phone calls to remind them that they must present proof to the school that their child has received a pertussis (whooping cough) booster known as Tdap. LBUSD reported in early July that 68% of their students had already met the new requirement. Students who do not already have proof of a Tdap on file with the school should bring their immunization records when registering for classes and picking up schedules in August.
To remind parents of the new Tdap requirement the California Department of Health (CDPH) and the California Broadcasters Association have launched a media campaign which includes a new public service announcement (PSA) that can be viewed on www.shotsforschool.org.
Whooping cough (pertussis) – a contagious disease spread by coughing or sneezing – has been declared an epidemic in California this year, with case numbers projected to be the highest in 50 years. The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services advises that families make sure that their young children get all of their DTaP (diphtheria/tetanus/acellular pertussis) vaccinations on time, and that older children and adults get a booster shot with Tdap, the adult formulation of the vaccine. It is especially important that household members and caregivers of young infants get a Tdap booster, since to date all of the deaths due to pertussis have occurred in infants less than 2 months of age, and studies show that babies are often infected by a caregiver or family member. Tdap is available through many local healthcare providers and at the Health Department. Appointments for vaccines at the Health Department may be made by calling 562-570-4315.
The State of California Food Handler Card Law (SB 602) will be effective on July 1, 2011. Food handlers involved in the preparation, storage, or service of food in a food facility must obtain a food handler card. Enforcement of the law will be limited to education and notification of the requirements until January 1, 2012 to allow for clarification of the law to be adopted.
Storm-related emergencies like power outages and flooding, can happen here in Long Beach at any time. the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services offers the following information in order to protect you and your famiily against food safety hazards and mold-related issues caused by flooding and loss of power.
Power Outages & Food Safety Information English | Spanish
The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) is alerting the public about fleaborne typhus, a disease transmitted by fleas. Since July 2009, eight (8) cases of fleaborne typhus have been reported among Long Beach residents throughout the City, an increase over previous years.
Beginning on September 1, 2008, State law (Section 118286 of the California Health and Safety Code) makes it illegal to dispose of sharps waste in the trash or recycling containers, and requires that all sharps waste be transported to a collection center in an approved sharps container.
The City of Long Beach, Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS), Recreational Water Program is advising all public pool and spa owners and operators within the City of Long Beach of a new federal law regarding pool/spa drainage systems.
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