Hoping to help the community start the new year off healthy, San Joaquin County Public Health officials have announced the availability of H1N1 influenza vaccine, with another shipment of doses received statewide.
Officials said by Monday, Jan. 4, California and San Joaquin County will have sufficient vaccine in most places to begin vaccinating all those who want to be vaccinated, even if they don't fall within priority target groups. Previously, the vaccine was set aside for those targeted groups but the latest shipment due will mean there is enough to go around.
"Influenza is not taking a break for the holidays," said Karen Furst, Public Health Officer for the county. "During the winter and holiday season, we spend time with family, friends and many others. Whether it's in a plane, a car or at the dinner table, close contact with others can help spread viruses like the flu."
H1N1 influenza vaccinations are now available through a number of sources, including doctors' offices, clinics, hospitals, pharmacies and schools and many providers now have sufficient supply. If you have a regular medical provider or doctor, check with them first to see if they have enough vaccine to provide you with a vaccination.
The state is nearing completion of the first and second phase of H1N1 influenza vaccine distribution, which has resulted in over 12 million doses shipped to over 7,000 providers across the state since the beginning of October. An estimated 150,000 doses were received in San Joaquin County.
Public Health Services will host special H1N1 clinics at several locations around the county in January, and they are open to anyone who wants to receive the vaccine.
Dates and places are:
Wednesday, Jan. 6 Manteca Senior Center, 295 Cherry Lane, Manteca; Wednesday, Jan. 13 Ripon Community Center, 334 West Fourth St., Ripon; Thursday, Jan. 14 Garden Acres Community Center, 607 Bird Ave., East Stockton.
Also, Wednesday, Jan. 20 Oak Park Senior Center, 730 East Fulton St., Central Stockton and Wednesday, Jan. 27, Arnold Rue Community Center, 5758 Lorraine Ave., North Stockton.
The special clinics will run from 9 a.m. to noon at all locations.
Regularly scheduled Public Health clinics for H1N1 vaccine will continue as normal, Tuesday mornings at the Stockton clinic, 1601 East Hazelton Ave., from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and at the Manteca, Lodi and Tracy clinics on a regular basis.
Seasonal influenza vaccine is also available at Public Health Services during any of their regular immunization clinics.
Along with the vaccine now available, officials remind you to take precautionary measures to help protect against contracting viruses this winter: wash your hands often with soap and water or use alcohol based sanitizers, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your sleeve when you cough or sneeze, stay home if you are sick until you are free of a fever for 24 hours, and get vaccinated.
For more information, call the recorded message line at 469-8200.
Officials said by Monday, Jan. 4, California and San Joaquin County will have sufficient vaccine in most places to begin vaccinating all those who want to be vaccinated, even if they don't fall within priority target groups. Previously, the vaccine was set aside for those targeted groups but the latest shipment due will mean there is enough to go around.
"Influenza is not taking a break for the holidays," said Karen Furst, Public Health Officer for the county. "During the winter and holiday season, we spend time with family, friends and many others. Whether it's in a plane, a car or at the dinner table, close contact with others can help spread viruses like the flu."
H1N1 influenza vaccinations are now available through a number of sources, including doctors' offices, clinics, hospitals, pharmacies and schools and many providers now have sufficient supply. If you have a regular medical provider or doctor, check with them first to see if they have enough vaccine to provide you with a vaccination.
The state is nearing completion of the first and second phase of H1N1 influenza vaccine distribution, which has resulted in over 12 million doses shipped to over 7,000 providers across the state since the beginning of October. An estimated 150,000 doses were received in San Joaquin County.
Public Health Services will host special H1N1 clinics at several locations around the county in January, and they are open to anyone who wants to receive the vaccine.
Dates and places are:
Wednesday, Jan. 6 Manteca Senior Center, 295 Cherry Lane, Manteca; Wednesday, Jan. 13 Ripon Community Center, 334 West Fourth St., Ripon; Thursday, Jan. 14 Garden Acres Community Center, 607 Bird Ave., East Stockton.
Also, Wednesday, Jan. 20 Oak Park Senior Center, 730 East Fulton St., Central Stockton and Wednesday, Jan. 27, Arnold Rue Community Center, 5758 Lorraine Ave., North Stockton.
The special clinics will run from 9 a.m. to noon at all locations.
Regularly scheduled Public Health clinics for H1N1 vaccine will continue as normal, Tuesday mornings at the Stockton clinic, 1601 East Hazelton Ave., from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and at the Manteca, Lodi and Tracy clinics on a regular basis.
Seasonal influenza vaccine is also available at Public Health Services during any of their regular immunization clinics.
Along with the vaccine now available, officials remind you to take precautionary measures to help protect against contracting viruses this winter: wash your hands often with soap and water or use alcohol based sanitizers, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your sleeve when you cough or sneeze, stay home if you are sick until you are free of a fever for 24 hours, and get vaccinated.
For more information, call the recorded message line at 469-8200.
