County Health Officer Announces Free Flu Vaccine Locations For High Risk Orange County Individuals

(Santa Ana) – Public Health Officer Dr. Mark Horton announced today that the Orange County Health Care Agency has received 24,760 doses of flu vaccine from the California Department of Health Services and free flu vaccine clinics are now scheduled at the attached Orange County locations.  “We are extremely grateful to the Hospital Association of Southern California and the participating hospitals for their willingness to help us quickly distribute the flu vaccine to high risk individuals in Orange County,” said Dr. Horton. “This is a shining example of cooperation and community partnership for the benefit of public health.”

The vaccine will only be given to the following groups of high-risk Orange County individuals:

·        Adults 65 years and older

·        People from 18 to 64 years of age with chronic medical conditions (Required regular medical care or stayed in the hospital in the last year for one of the following: heart disease; diabetes; lung disease, including asthma; kidney disease; sickle cell disease and related blood diseases and immune system weak from diseases, like cancer, or medications)

·        Pregnant women

·        Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities

·        Health care workers who provide direct patient care

·        Out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children less than 6 months old

Please note that many doctors may have received additional flu vaccine for children. Parents should check with their children’s doctor for high-risk children or call the Health Care Agency’s Health Referral Line at (800) 564-8448.  High risk children as defined by the CDC include those from 6 to 23 months old; children who are household contacts with babies less than 6 months old; children 2 – 18 years of age with chronic medical conditions or who are on long-term aspirin therapy.

This year, it will be very important to stay healthy during the flu season. Some helpful tips include wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water, eat healthy foods, exercise, make sure you drink enough water and get plenty of rest. If you begin to feel sick:

·        Stay home from work or school and get plenty of rest.

·        Cover your mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Properly dispose of used tissues and wash your hands afterwards.

·        Drink lots of liquids.

·        Avoid the use of alcohol and tobacco.

·        Take over-the-counter pain relievers to help feel better.

Information about the flu vaccine clinic locations is also available at the Health Care Agency’s Health Referral Line at (800) 564-8448 or visit www.ochealthinfo.com.

(See attached 2 pages for flu vaccine clinic locations and dates)