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El Dorado County Schedules Community Flu Shot Clinic with H1N1 Vaccine
H1N1 (Swine) Flu Vaccine will be Offered to Individuals in Targeted High Risk Groups
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The El Dorado County Health Services Department, Public Health Division, has scheduled its first community flu shot clinic this season that offers the H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine.  The clinic will be offered for high risk individuals in El Dorado County.  The clinic will be held on December 2 from 1:00-3:30 p.m. at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds, located at 100 Placerville Drive in Placerville.  There is no cost to receive the vaccine.  Vaccine will be administered subject to availability.  Additional community flu shot clinics will be scheduled as more vaccine becomes available.

Individuals targeted to receive the H1N1 flu vaccine at the December 2 vaccination clinic include:

• Pregnant women
• Household contacts and caregivers of infants under the age of six months
• Persons six months through 24 years of age
• Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have medical conditions (such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, a suppressed immune system or other conditions) that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications
• Health care workers and emergency medical personnel

El Dorado County Health Officer, Dr. Olivia Kasirye is reminding individuals that many health care providers in the community have also begun receiving the H1N1 flu vaccine.  “Individuals should be sure to check with their doctor if they are interested in getting the vaccine for themselves or a family member,” said Dr. Kasirye. “The H1N1 flu vaccine has been coming in more slowly than any of us expected, but we are starting to see more vaccine now available in the community in local doctors’ offices.  We know many people are anxious to get the vaccine and we greatly appreciate everyone’s patience.  More will be coming.”

Additional shipments of the vaccine are expected in the coming weeks, and as supplies increase, the vaccine will be more widely available to more members of the community. “We hope to have additional community vaccination clinics with the H1N1 vaccine for the general public in the near future,” said Dr. Kasirye.  Dates and locations of those vaccination clinics will be posted to the County’s website and through local media.

El Dorado County health officials are monitoring H1N1 (swine) flu activity and continue to emphasize that good hand washing and staying home when sick are the best ways to prevent the spread of the virus. 
Primary symptoms of H1N1 (swine) flu include fever of 100 degrees or higher, with cough.  People with flu symptoms should stay home from work or school until their fever has been gone for at least 24 hours. Individuals with severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or dehydration from vomiting and/or diarrhea, should seek medical advice.  Pregnant women and people with chronic health conditions (such as a respiratory condition, immune disorder, or diabetes) should seek early medical care if they get the flu.

According to Dr. Kasirye, there continues to be widespread infection of H1N1 throughout local communities.  Most cases have been mild, but there have been some hospitalizations.  There has been one H1N1 related death in El Dorado County.  Updated information on H1N1 (swine) flu will be posted online at www.edcgov.us/publichealth.