Upcoming Free H1N1 Vaccination Clinics in El Dorado County:
Feb. 3 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at South Tahoe Middle School in the multipurpose room, 2940 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe.
Feb. 18 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Light of the Hills Lutheran Church in the Fellowship Hall, 3100 Rodeo Road, Cameron Park (behind Burke Junction).
The vaccine is free. These clinics are open to El Dorado County residents of all ages. See Press Release for more info.
In addition, the Health Services Department offers the H1N1 vaccine free of charge for all ages by appointment. Call (530) 621-6100 in Placerville or (530) 573-3155 in South Lake Tahoe. During the month of February, walk-in clinics for H1N1 vaccine will be held in South Lake Tahoe every Wednesday from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the Health Services Department located at 1360 Johnson Blvd., Suite 103.
Tips to Prevent H1N1 (Swine) Flu:
Get your H1N1 flu vaccine
Stay home if you have flu symptoms (fever with cough) until
your fever has been gone for at least 24 hours. Do not go back
to work or school with a fever.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you
cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or
sneeze. Throw used tissue away.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
Seek medical care for severe respiratory symptoms such as difficulty breathing or for dehydration from vomiting and/or diarrhea. You may also need to seek early medical attention if you have a chronic health condition that puts you at risk for complications of flu.
How to Get the H1N1 (Swine) Flu Vaccine: Please contact your health care provider if you want to receive the H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine. Health care providers in El Dorado County are now offering the vaccine more broadly to members of the general community. Please speak with your health care provider to see if the vaccine is right for you.
The El Dorado County Health Services Department, Public Health Division is hosting community H1N1 flu vaccination clinics. The clinics are open to all El Dorado County residents. Additional community flu shot clinics will be scheduled as more vaccine becomes available. See related press releases.
In addition, the Health Services Department is also offering the H1N1 vaccine by appointment to all members of the community. The vaccine will be administered subject to availability. There is no cost to receive the vaccine. To schedule an appointment with the Health Services Department, please call (530) 621-6100 in Placerville or (530) 573-3155 in South Lake Tahoe.
Who Should NOT Get the H1N1 Vaccine?
There are certain people who should not get flu vaccine (such as infants under the age of 6 months and people who are severely allergic to eggs). Please speak with your doctor if you have concerns about whether the vaccine is right for you.
How Safe is the H1N1 Vaccine? The H1N1 flu vaccine is made using the same methods as the seasonal flu vaccine, which has a very good safety record. The most common side effects of the vaccine are pain, redness, or swelling where the shot was given in the arm or a runny nose and headache after the nasal spray. Most people who receive influenza vaccine have no serious problems. However, on rare occasions, flu vaccination can cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reaction. For more detailed information about the vaccine see: Key Facts About 2009 H1N1 Flu Vaccine
What if I Get the Flu?
If you develop flu-like symptoms (fever of 100 degrees with cough), stay home from work or school until at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. Most people who get the flu need supportive care such as extra fluids, rest and over-the-counter medication. However, if symptoms are severe or persist, speak with your health care provider. Pregnant women and people at high risk of complications due to the flu(such as those with a respiratory condition, immune disorder, diabetes or obesity) are particularly encouraged to consult with their health care provider early (within the first 48 hours of symptoms) if they develop flu-like illness.
What About the Recently Recalled H1N1 Vaccine? The recall involves some pre-filled syringes of vaccine for children 6 months through 35 months of age. The Health Services Department in El Dorado County has confirmed that we did not receive any of the recalled doses. If there are any health care providers in the community who received the vaccine, they will be notified by the State. The CDC has stressed that parents do not need to do anything or to worry. The issue is not about safety, but rather about the vaccine's strength. Tests done before the shots were shipped out showed the vaccines were strong enough. But tests done weeks later indicated the strength had fallen slightly below required levels. The vaccine is still expected to be effective in stimulating a protective response against the H1N1 virus. Children in that age group are supposed to get two doses of H1N1 vaccine, spaced about a month apart. We do not believe that children who received the recalled vaccine need to get vaccinated again, even if they got two doses of the same vaccine. Children in that age group who have only received one dose of H1N1 vaccine should get the recommended second dose. The lot numbers that show which vaccine your child received should be included on their vaccination card. For additional information on the recall, including the specific lot numbers of the recalled vaccine,
see - Recalled Vaccine
On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the Pandemic Alert Level from Phase 5 to Phase 6. The change reflects the novel H1N1 Influenza A's (swine flu) geographic presence in more places around the world, but does not signify an increase in the flu's severity.
Pandemic influenza, or pandemic flu, is a worldwide outbreak of a new flu virus for which there is little or no immunity (protection) in the human population. To date, the virus has been mild in most cases. Since this is a new flu virus for which the population has little or no immunity, scientists and health officials are concerned that as the virus spreads through populations, mutations to the virus could cause illness to become more serious and persist into the fall flu season with greater infectivity.
Individuals should take action to be better prepared for a pandemic.
The following links provide information to help you prepare for Pandemic Influenza.
