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FLU VACCINATIONS
Congratulations on a very successful "first half" of the flu vaccination campaign. Many people in this community have already been vaccinated against the flu due to your efforts.
While there has been very little report of flu circulating in our community, disease occurance does generally pick-up in the next eight weeks or so. As news of disease circulates, we generally get phone calls from public who missed the first half of our flu vaccination season when we operated many community clinics throughout the county. However, there are no currently scheduled community flu clinics.
So, where can you send folks who are not clinic clients for flu vaccine now:
Children who are VFC eligible and high-risk for flu complications or are a contact to a high-risk person, can go to the six primary care clinics during their walk-in immunization hours. There is one or more of our clinics offering this service Monday thru Friday every week.
For flu vaccine, children and adults who are high-risk for flu complications or are a contact to a high-risk person (regardless of their insurance status), can go to any of the mobile clinics that the IAP staff operate throughout the county for the remaining flu season. We will have the vaccine available well into March and April.
Certainly, our own clinic clients should be vaccinated per provider order.
As always, feel free to refer calls to the IAP 687-6903, or call for any questions.
When and where can I get a flu shot?
Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency will hold eight public flu shot clinics to use the County's available doses of state flu vaccine. The cost of the vaccine is $5 per person, or free to those who present a Medicare or Medi-cal card at the clinic. The vaccine will be given to all individuals eligible under state criteria: children 6 months through 4 years of age; adults 50 years of age or older; persons with certain chronic medical conditions, including asthma or diabetes; pregnant women; persons who live with or care for any high-risk individuals, including caregivers of children under 6 months of age, and health care workers.
The clinics will be held as follows:
- Monday, November 26th - 4-7 p.m. Hillman Annex 1150 So. K Street, Tulare
- Tuesday, November 27th - 9-11 a.m. Dinuba Perinatal Bldg. 1441 E. El Monte, Dinuba
- Tuesday, November 27th - 1:30-3:30 p.m. Strathmore Elementary School 23024 Ave. 198, Strathmore
- Wednesday, November 28th - 9-11 a.m. Porterville Public Health 303 E. Olive, Porterville
- Thursday, November 29th - 9-11 a.m. Government Plaza 5957 So. Mooney Blvd., Visalia
- Saturday, December 1st - 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Visalia Health Clinic 2611 N. Dinuba Blvd., Visalia
- Thursday, December 6th - 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Mooney Grove Park - Visalia Drive Through Clinic
Tulare County Public Health Officer, Dr. Karen Haught, said individuals can take additional preventive measures to minimize their chance of getting the flu or passing it on to someone else: wash hands thoroughly with soap & water; cover mouth with your sleeve when coughing or sneezing; dispose of soiled tissue after use; avoid touching your face unless you have just washed your hands; avoid crowds; and stay home when you are sick.
Medicare and Medi-Cal recipients must present their card at all clinics. The cost for those without a Medicare or Medi-Cal card is $5. For more information please call 1-800-834-7121.
What if I don't meet the criteria set by the Centers for Disease Control?
Short of receiving the flu vaccine individuals can take these preventive measures to minimize their chances of getting the flu or passing it on to someone else: wash hands thoroughly with soap & water; cover mouth when coughing or sneezing; dispose of soiled tissue after use; avoid touching your face unless you have just washed your hands; avoid crowds; and stay home when you are sick. For more information, call 1-800-834-7121.
Will a flu vaccination stop me from getting the flu?
Getting an annual flu vaccination can help prevent some of the illness, and possibly deaths, caused by influenza (the "flu"). A flu vaccination can be given to most people over 6 months of age. This vaccination decreases both the chances of contracting flu and its severity.
How does the flu vaccination work?
The flu vaccine helps the body produce antibodies that help in destroying flu viruses. These viruses are constantly changing, so different virus strains must be incorporated in vaccines from one year to the next. That's why yearly flu vaccination are necessary.
Should everyone get a flu vaccination?
Those most at risk for severe flu such as the elderly and people with certain chronic medical conditions should get a yearly vaccination. You may still get the flu, but it may be less severe.
Those 'at risk' include:
- People over the age of 65
- Adults and children of any age with any of the following conditions:
- Chronic heart disease, including angina and heart failure
- Chronic respiratory disease, including asthma, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis or emphysema
- Kidney disease or anyone on dialysis
- Diabetes
- Immune suppression due to disease such as HIV or drug- or radio-therapy or any form of chemotherapy
- Anyone living in nursing, residential or long-stay homes or other long-stay facilities where the spread of the virus is more likely.
How much does a flu vaccination cost?
Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency offers flu vaccination for those at risk. The vaccinations are free if you have Medicare Part B, and $5 for all others, including those with Medi-Cal. For information, call the Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency Information and Referral Line toll-free at 1-800-834-7121.
How do I get more information on the flu?
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