The Right Way to Sneeze: Courtesy of Elmo

Yes, there's a right way to sneeze.   Remind your friends, family and co-workers to also wash their hands!  Preventing the flu, starts with you!

Elmo y Rosita caminan una canción sobre la manera correcta de estornudar.

Flu Attack! How a Virus Invades Your Body

NPR does an excellent job of showing how a virus invades your body in this computer animation. 





The full story is on NPR here.

Free H1N1 Vaccine Clinics Today: October 30, 2009

H1N1 vaccine clinics are taking place today at the following locations:

* Hollywood Park at 1050 S. Prairie Ave in Inglewood from 9 am-5:30 pm

* Live Oak Park Community Center at  10144 Bogue St in Temple City from 9 am-5 pm

* Watts Community Action Labor Community at 10950 S. Central Ave in Watts from 9 am-5 pm

For more information, visit FluShotLA.com.

The Doctors Debunk Flu Myths

Watch "The Doctors" debunk H1N1 flu myths with Assistant Surgeon General Dr. Anne Schuchat.

Does the flu vaccine cause the flu?  Is the H1N1 vaccination mandatory?

Free H1N1 Vaccine Clinics Today: Thursday, October 29, 2009

Today's free H1N1 flu vaccine clinics are taking place at these locations:

Memorial Park North Recreation Center 
11 am - 7 pm
340 N. Orange Pl.
Azusa 91702
Map It 


Salazar Park
1 pm - 9 pm 
3864 Whittier Blvd.
Los Angeles 90023  

Map It 

Watts Labor Community Action Committee
9 am - 5 pm
10950 S. Central Ave.
Los Angeles 90059
Map It 
  



  

Free H1N1 Vaccine Clinics Today: Wednesday, October 28, 2009

 Today's free H1N1 flu vaccine clinics are taking place at these locations:

El Camino College Compton Center

12 pm - 8 pm

1111 Artesia Blvd.

Compton, CA 90221

Map It

Fairplex Exposition Complex

12 pm - 8 pm

1101 W. Mckinley Ave

Pomona, CA91768

Map It

Performing Arts Center

1 pm - 9 pm

12700 Center Court Dr S

Cerritos, CA 90703

Map It

For more dates and H1N1 vaccine shot clinics, visit FluShotLA.com.

Front of the H1N1 vaccine line: Pregnant women, young people, asthmatics, diabetics, people living with HIV/AIDS, among those in priority group

Today, local health officials announced that the demand for the H1N1 flu vaccine is exceeding the supply, which is impacting some Public Health-run vaccine clinics. To ensure equitable availability, screening for priority groups will be intensified. Here are the questions used to determine if you are in the priority groups to receive the H1N1 vaccine:

• Date of birth?

• Do you have any of the following conditions?

o Asthma

o Heart, lung, kidney, liver or neurological disease

o Cancer

o Diabetes

o Blood disorder

o Compromised immune system, such as those living with HIV/AIDS

• Are you pregnant or do you think you may be pregnant?

• Do you take care of or live in a household with a child less than 6 months of age?

Priority groups for H1N1 vaccine are:

• Pregnant women,

• People who live with or care for infants under six months of age,

• Healthcare and emergency services personnel,

• Young people aged six months to 24 years of age,

• People aged 25 through 64 years of age who have health conditions that put them at higher risk for flu-related complications.

If you do not fall into these priority groups, you are encouraged to be patient. Vaccine will be distributed through private health care providers, doctor’s offices, community clinics, and some chain pharmacies, as soon as it arrives from the manufacturer into LA County. If you have health insurance and your doctor does not yet have H1N1 vaccine, check back with your doctor or your health care plan in the coming weeks.

More info:

·         Search for a free H1N1 vaccine clinic in your area at http://www.FluShotLA.com

·         Fill out the vaccination form, before you go to the free vaccine clinic – it’s in several languages here - Vaccination Form

·         Read the Press Release issued today from Public Health.

H1N1 Vaccine Clinics Today: Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Today, H1N1 vaccine clinics are taking place at the following locations: 

Acton Community Center
10am-6pm
3248 Nickels Ave.
Acton, CA 93510 

Downey Civic Theatre 

1pm-9pm
8435 Firestone Blvd.
Downey, CA 90241

El Camino College Compton Center 
9am-5pm
1111 E. Artesia Blvd.
Compton, CA 90221


Fairplex Exposition Complex

9am-5pm

1101 W. Mckinley Ave.
Pomona, CA 91768

For other Los Angeles area H1N1 vaccine clinics, go to http://www.FluShotLA.com - search by Date or by City.

The CDC does not expect a shortage of vaccines. However, the availability and demand can be unpredictable. To find alternate flu shot locations contact your doctor, pharmacy or www.flu.gov.

Flu Myth Monday: The Flu Vaccines Makes You Sick

Myth: The flu vaccine makes you sick.

Dr. Jonathan Fielding Debunks the Myth

Fact: You cannot catch the flu from a flu shot. The flu shot is made from “dead” virus. They cannot make you sick. The FluMist™ is safe and approved for flu prevention (the flu viruses are live but weakened). It takes about two weeks after you get your flu vaccine to be protected from getting sick with the flu.

Source: County of Los Angeles Public Health

Tips to Protect Yourself from the Flu

Here are some other ways to keep from getting sick with the flu (and other illnesses, too) or giving the flu to other people:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water.

• Cough or sneeze into your elbow or sleeve—not into your hands.

• Teach children to wash their hands and cover their coughs and sneezes, too!

• Stay away from someone who is coughing or sneezing.

• Keep your hands away from your nose, eyes, and mouth.

• Stay home if you are sick.

• Keep a child home if he or she is sick.

For more information on the flu, go to www.lapublichealth.org

On Friday, the first H1N1 vaccine clinics sponsored by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health launched in Encino and Culver City. The free vaccination clinics ensure that residents in the priority groups who do not have health insurance (or other health care resources) are able to get the H1N1 vaccine for free.

The H1N1 vaccine will be first available to:
* Pregnant women
* People living with or caring for infants under 6 months of age
* Emergency medical services personnel and health care workers
* Children and young adults from 6 months through 24 years
* People aged 25 through 64 years with chronic medical conditions like heart or lung disease, asthma, diabetes, HIV or weakened immune systems


At the press conference to launch the first H1N1 vaccine clinic, County Board of Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa joined Dr. Jonathan Fielding, Director of Public Health and Health Officer.

In these videos, Dr. Fielding answers questions about H1N1:

Caption: Will there be a shortage of H1N1 flu vaccine?



As of October 23, 2009, there is a limited supply of thimerosal-free (or preservative-free) H1N1 vaccine. It will be available for use by pregnant women and children under three years of age. (Source: Los Angeles County Department of Public Health)



Caption: Is it too late to get the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccinations?