Friday: The Wall Las Memorias Hosts Free H1N1 Vaccine Clinic

Join the Office of State Senator Gilbert Cedillo, Office of Assemblymember Kevin De Leon, Office of Los Angeles Councilmember Ed Reyes, JWCH Institute and The Wall Las Memorias Project for a FREE H1N1 vaccine event (adults only)

Friday, January 29, 2010
3:00-7:00 PM
The Wall Las Memorias Project
111 North Avenue 56
Los Angeles, CA 90042



For more information, go to the event's Facebook page here.

Lessons from 1918 Pandemic Flu

Why all of the attention on H1N1 flu? Health officials are trying to avoid what happened during the previous flu pandemic in 1918 that killed more than 50 million people worldwide.  An estimated 675,000 people died in the U.S. alone. That's more people than all those who died (both military personnel and civilians) during World War I (1914-1918).

Flu.gov posted this video that tells personal stories and offers more perspective on what happened during the previous flu pandemic.  The site also offers educators a guide for students and other helpful tools.

For Educators:
A helpful guide for the classroom viewing experience is here.


For Survivors:
Do you have a family member that survived the Pandemic Flu of 1918?  Share their story here.


To find the nearest location to get the H1N1 vaccine, visit FluShotLA.com.

How to Avoid the Flu

The Los Angeles Downtown News ran a story this week on how to avoid the flu.  Of course, the best advice is getting the seasonal and H1N1 vaccination.  In addition, the article advises...

Medical experts say simply washing hands can be a key step in cutting down flu transmission. Although washing does not destroy a virus, it removes it from the hands, thus preventing easy transfer to the eyes, nose and mouth.

Cough into your elbow or a tissue that can be thrown away, and head to the sink for another wash. Stay away from crowded places and sick people. Wipe household surfaces with antiseptic cleansers. If you are entertaining, consider plating food individually instead of offering a buffet, and set appetizers out in decorative cupcake papers so that people have individual servings and avoid sharing food touched by contaminated hands.

In downtown Los Angeles, H1N1 flu shots are available at Ralphs (at 645 W. 9th St), Central Health Center (at 241 N. Figueroa), CVS (at 201 N. Los Angeles), among other sites. To find more locations, visit FluShotLA.com.


Visit the Downtown News for the full article here.

Kingdom Day Festival: Free H1N1 Flu Shots by T.H.E. Clinic

As part of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day festivities, T.H.E. Clinic is hosting a free H1N1 vaccine clinic at the Kingdom Day Festival in Leimert Park on Monday, January 18 from 9 am to 3:30 p.m.  

Free Ralph’s gift cards and t-shirts will be given away to the first 100 people (first come, first served basis).   Attendees can also visit T.H.E. Clinic’s booth to take photos with a life-sized cardboard, cut-out of President Obama, who recently got his H1N1 flu vaccination. T.H.E. staff and partners will also be on hand to answer any questions attendees have about H1N1 flu vaccines and the services available at the clinic.

 

T.H.E. Clinic, where T.H.E. stands for “To Help Everyone”, is one of the few non-profit health care clinics in Southwest Los Angeles, serving part of a dense urban area of over one million people, almost one-third of whom are uninsured. 

“As a doctor, one of the most important things I can do is to help my patients make the decisions that can keep them healthy,” notes Tracy D. Robinson, MD, Medical Director of T.H.E. Clinic. “When it comes to flu vaccines, I tell my patients that the decision is clear. The risk of side effects from these vaccines is far less than the risk of catching the flu, a serious and sometimes deadly disease.” 

To find the nearest location to get your H1N1 flu vaccine, visit FluShotLA.com or call 2-1-1.  For more information about T.H.E. Clinic, click here.

On MTV: Jason Derülo gets his H1N1 Flu Shot

Jason Derülo was the opening act for the Lady Gaga Monster Ball concert tour and his single "Whatcha Say" also recently hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Now, he's out in the community, showing how easy it is to stay healthy by getting vaccinated.

As the 20-year-old put it, "I was actually promoting my album, but I wanted to show you guys just how easy it is to get the H1N1 vaccine."  

Watch him on MTV, as he gets his H1N1 flu shot and a nurse answers his questions:

MTV Shows

The article is also on MTV here.  To find the nearest location to get your H1N1 vaccination, visit FluShotLA.com or call 2-1-1 (in Los Angeles County). 

H1N1 Hits the Young, Minorities Disproportionately

This week, the Los Angeles Times reports that the H1N1 flu virus is disproportionately impacting the young and minorities according to new data released by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

About 55% of patients hospitalized with H1N1 flu in L.A. County were Latino, 130 of 237 patients as of Aug. 3, the most recent data available from the county Department of Public Health. Of the total, 17% were white, 8% black and 4% Asian, records show.

Los Angeles County is 47% Latino, 29% white, 13% Asian and 8% black, according to the most recent census figures.

According to the most recent data available, 2,063 patients had been hospitalized countywide with H1N1 flu and 115 had died (as of December 27, 2009).

In the same article, the LA Times reports that state health department is about to launch a text message campaign encouraging college students to get the H1N1 flu shot.

Al Lundeen, a department spokesman, said they are targeting college students and other youths with the text message campaign because, “we know from the demographics that they seem to be more susceptible. This is not the typical flu, which strikes the elderly.”

Health officials say the most effective way to prevent the H1N1 flu virus is to get vaccinated and say that it's not too late. To find the nearest location for an H1N1 flu shot, visit FluShotLA.com. 


To read the full article at the LA Times here.

Listen: H1N1 Flu Prevention Radio Spot on Hot 92.3

Listen to the FluShotLA radio PSA that's currently running on Hot 92.3 in the Los Angeles area:

Obama Declares Nat'l Influenza Vaccination Week

President Obama issued a proclamation today, declaring this week National Influenza Vaccination Week. In the proclamation, he states that more than ten million people have contracted the H1N1 flu virus and...

While the vast majority of those affected have recovered without incident, an unusually high....

...proportion of children and younger adults have developed serious complications, resulting in hospitalization or even death.

We know that influenza vaccination is the best way to protect ourselves against the flu, and my Administration moved swiftly to respond to this threat by assisting in the development of a vaccine, which is now widely available and has shown to be both safe and effective.

President Obama and the first family received the H1N1 flu shot last month.


Read the story and the full text of the proclamation at the LA Times here.
Read the LA County Department of Public Health's press release on National Influenza Vaccination Week here.
To find the nearest location to get a seasonal and H1N1 flu shot, visit FluShotLA.com or call 2-1-1 (in LA County).
Photo credit: Pete Souza / White House

Eagle Rock & Eastside: Free H1N1 Flu Shots at QueensCare

Starting on Saturday, QueensCare Family Clinics is offering free H1N1 vaccinations at their Eagle Rock location at 4448 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041.


Saturdays from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. on


January 9th
January 23rd
January 30th


QueensCare will also offer H1N1 vaccinations at its Eastside location at 4560 E. Cesar Chavez Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90022 .


Saturdays from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. on
January 16th
February 6th


More details visit QueensCare Family Clinics http://www.queenscarefamilyclinics.org or call 800-454-1800.
To find other H1N1 vaccination sites, visit FluShotLA.com.

H1N1 Flu Shots Now Available at Local Pharmacies, Supermarkets & Retailers

Today, the Wall Street Journal's Health Blog discusses the H1N1 vaccine now being widely available at local pharmacies, supermarkets and other retailers with in-store clinics.

“Right now there’s probably more supply than demand,” Troyen A. Brennan, chief medical officer at drugstore chain CVS Caremark, told the WSJ this morning. CVS is offering the swine-flu vaccinations in 23 states, while Rite-Aid has them in 30 states and Wal-Mart in 48 states. Walgreens, the No. 1 pharmacy chain by number of stores, will have them available in 49 states by year end, the WSJ says.

The article goes on to say that most retailers are charging between $10-$18 per shot. 

To find the nearest H1N1 flu shot location in Los Angeles County, visit FluShotLA.com.

H1N1 vaccine is also available in limited quantities at 11 Public Health clinics. Please check here to see if you are eligible for vaccinations at the Public Health clinics. Then call the nearest clinic to find out what days and times the vaccine is available.   Find a clinic. 


To read the full article on the Wall Street Journal Health Blog, click here.