Meet the Flu Fighters

You're in traffic and see them again.  Who are these heroic flu fighters?  They are our volunteer participants in our H1N1 flu prevention campaign. They are on billboards, posters, on TV and in the back of that bus. Here's a chance to hear from them our YouTube channel.

Meet Jeff from West Hollywood.  He emphasizes the importance of getting a flu shot if you're HIV positive or immune compromised. Find out more about HIV & H1N1 here.

Meet Gladys from Downtown Los Angeles.  Find out more about women who are pregnant & H1N1 here.

Reuters: Flu vaccines up, but not enough

According to health experts, more Americans got the flu vaccine in record numbers, but it's still too few.  In a recent Reuters article, CDC officials report:

"Compared with the previous influenza season, 2009-10 saw a 67 percent relative increase in estimated coverage for children, and a 30 percent relative increase for adults aged 18-49 years without high-risk conditions," the CDC team wrote in the agency's weekly report on death and disease.  But this remains far below targets of 60 percent for adults and 90 percent of the over-65s, the CDC said.

And although a third wave of H1N1 has not officially occurred, there are still people testing for the H1N1 virus. 

"During the four weeks ending April 15, 2010, about 26 percent of patients in all age groups tested in the southeast and 22 percent in the central south were positive for H1N1, compared to 6 percent for the remainder of the United States." 

Flu season is here until the end of May, so it's not too late to get your flu shot.  Check FluShotLA.com to find the nearest location to get vaccinated. 


For the full story on Reuters, click here.

Flu season runs through May

This Saturday, April 24, Berendo Middle School will be hosting a “Community Connected Fair” from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with a job fair and free H1N1 vaccines. The school is located at 1157 S. Berendo, Los Angeles, 90006.

It's not too late to get vaccinated. Cases of H1N1 influenza are still showing up in Los Angeles County and residents are urged to protect themselves and their loved ones.

“Flu season runs through May, which means that children and adults can still come down with influenza and may miss days at school or work because they are ill,” said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Director of Public Health and Health Officer. 

“The school period after spring break is a critical time for most students, with final exams and social events such as prom. Don’t miss out because of the flu. The best prevention against the spread of flu is to get vaccinated and to practice good, simple hygiene such as washing hands often, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home if sick.”

Individuals who plan to get vaccinated are encouraged to review the vaccination form, available in several different languages, and found on the Public Health website at http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov or go to FluShotLA.com.  


“Community Day” is sponsored by the Korea Daily, CCD/ Wilshire Worksource Center, Councilmember Ed Reyes Office and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

H1N1: One Year Later

A year ago, scientists identified an influenza virus that had never been reported anywhere in the world. The discovery ignited a comprehensive response to protect against the new virus - the H1N1 flu. 

Flu.gov updated the interactive timeline that details when scientists discovered the virus, the development of a vaccine and the response.  The timeline also illustrates how many cases were reported and how the vaccine was distributed.  Check out the timeline here.

The Wall Street Journal blog also reports on "A Year After H1N1 Outbreak." Read the post here.

Are you a Flu Fighter? Take the Quiz!

Pop quiz! Think you know how to prevent and protect your loved ones from getting the influenza virus? Flu.gov has posted a quiz on Facebook to test your knowledge.  You might be surprised at how much you don't know. Take our new quiz and find out if you really are a Flu Fighter. 


Flu Fighter quiz questions include:

1:How long can influenza virus remain viable on objects (such as books and doorknobs)?

2:What everyday steps can I take to protect myself from getting the flu?

3:For how long does the CDC recommend you wash your hands with soap and water?

4:At what temperature does heat destroy the influenza virus?

5:How long can an infected adult spread H1N1 (swine) flu to others?

Take the Facebook quiz to find out the answers by clicking here. 

H1N1 remains threat to young, top health officials warn

Today, the chairman of the World Health Organization (WHO)'s Emergency Committee said the H1N1 flu pandemic is as severe as influenza pandemics in 1957 and 1968 and remains a threat, especially to healthy young adults.

"This is just as severe as we saw in 1957 and 1968, with one major difference. We are not seeing deaths in the elderly but we are seeing them in a more important group of the population, healthy young adults," Mackenzie said in a rare presentation.

"It is much more severe than people tend to talk about," he told a three-day meeting called to review the way the World Health Organization handled the pandemic.

According to the Reuters article, the official death toll so far from H1N1 is estimated to be 17,700. The 1957 and 1968 pandemics killed around 2 million and 1 million respectively. Seasonal flu kills up to 500,000 a year, 90 percent of them frail elderly people.  The article continued...

"We still have evidence of the pandemic in Asia and in West Africa," he said. "We also want to see what happens in a second wave in the southern hemisphere. We have no idea what will happen and have some concerns.

"I would say, yes, we are still in a pandemic phase 6 ... We cannot lower our guard."

To read the full Reuters article, click here.


It's not too late to get vaccinated. To find the nearest location, visit FluShotLA.com.

H1N1: Los Angeles Korean & Chinese Media

Since our H1N1 flu prevention campaign is based in Los Angeles, most of our collateral materials are available in several languages. Here are a couple of examples of recent interviews in the Chinese and Korean media.  The interviews discuss the H1N1 flu season, symptoms of the H1N1 virus and the importance of getting vaccinated. 


H1N1 Chinese News Interview on LA 18

Click here for more information on H1N1 in Chinese. 


H1N1 Korean News Interview on LA 18

Click here for more information on H1N1 in Korean.


LA 18 reaches 6.2 million TV equipped households and 2.9 million cable subscribing households in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura and San Diego counties. Check out their web site here. 

Flu Fighters: Eric & Tiffany

You've probably seen Eric & Tiffany on the bus or maybe in your community newspaper.  They are two of our volunteer participants in the H1N1 public education ad campaign.  Check them out in the original PSA and in their own personal videos. 


Meet Eric from Inglewood:

Meet Tiffany from the Valley:

Watch the original H1N1 PSA called "The Domino Effect":

Health Fest 2010 in Downtown LA

This Thursday, join us as we celebrate Public Health Week in downtown LA with free giveaways, demos and flu shots!  

Thursday, April 8, 2010

9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Hahn Hall of Administration Courtyard

500 W Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

• Free H1N1 vaccines. It's still flu season. Protect yourself. 

• Samples of fresh fruits and veggies from the Farmer’s Market Association

• Self-defense demonstrations. Learn how to protect yourself.

• A kids-inspired cooking demonstration. Junior chefs: Meals by kids for kids

• Giveaways to help you or someone you love stop smoking

• Get expert answers to your health questions

Click here for the event flyer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fiesta de la Salud 2010

Estamos celebrando la Semana de Salud Pública con

regalos, demostraciones y vacunas contra la gripe

jueves, 8 de abril del 2010

9:30 am - 3:00 pm

Patio de Hahn Hall of Administration

500 W Temple St, Los Ángeles, CA 90012

• Vacunas contra la gripe H1N1 gratis. Aún es temporada de la gripe. Protéjase.

• Muestras de comidas saludables que usted puede hacer rápido y fácilmente en su casa

• Muestras de frutas y verduras de los Mercados del Agricultor/Farmer’s Market

• Presentación de técnicas de autodefensa. Aprenda cómo protegerse.

• Demostración de cocina inspirada por los niños. Pequeños Chefs: comidas para los niños

por los niños

• Regalos para usted y seres queridos para ayudarles a dejar de fumar

• Obtenga respuestas a sus preguntas sobre la salud por expertos

Spanish

Study: Flu Shot Safe for Most Kids Allergic to Eggs

Credit: Reuters/Jessica Rinaldi

A new report indicates that it is safe for most kids with egg allergies to get the flu shot. Since most flu vaccines are made in chicken eggs, there have been concerns about giving it to children with the egg allergy.  Typically, doctors administer a skin test to find out if there is an allergy before administering the shot.

Parents of children with egg allergies should know that their children can receive the vaccine, the researcher said, and should discuss it with their physicians. While more research is needed to figure out the best way to go about giving the shot to kids with egg allergies, she added, the new findings suggest "that you can maybe skip the testing."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that everyone between six months and 18 years of age get the flu shot. This protection can be particularly important for kids with asthma, who are at higher risk of flu complications; these children are also often allergic to eggs, Schneider noted.

Read more about the Pediatrics study at Reuters here.
To find the nearest locations to get a flu shot, visit FluShotLA.com.

Health Officials Urge H1N1 Vaccine After New Outbreak

This week, health officials are raising concern as the Southeast part of the country is seeing an increased number of H1N1 cases. This is a "worrisome trend" with fears that it may be a sign that a third wave of the H1N1 flu outbreak may be on the horizon.

Each week since then, hospitals have reported at least 40 hospitalizations and no more than four deaths statewide, O'Neal says. "That doesn't sound like a lot," he says. "But we had dropped down to no hospitalizations at the end of December. Seeing 40 per week was a significant increase for us."

Most of those hospitalized have chronic illnesses, including diabetes, chronic lung disease and neurologic ailments. Pregnancy also raises a woman's risk of severe flu illness.

U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin urged people Monday to get vaccinated, especially those in high-risk groups. O'Neal said parents should take children younger than 9 for the full set of two shots.

View the full story at the USA Today here.  
To find the nearest location to get the H1N1 flu shot, visit FluShotLA.com.

This Weekend: Free Groceries, Free Flu Shots, Free Tax Preparation!

Join First Lady Maria Shriver at The Forum for WeConnect Weekend! 


When:  This Weekend!  
Friday, March 26th – Sunday, March 28th 2010    Friday: 3:00 – 8:00pm
    Saturday: 10:00 – 7:00pm
    Sunday: 11:00 – 3:00pm

Where: The Forum – Downtown Los Angeles
3900 West Manchester Blvd., Inglewood CA 90305

7 Reasons to attend the WE Connect Weekend
1.    Free Flu Shots (It's not too late to get vaccinated!)
2.    Free Tax Preparation 
3.    Foreclosure Assistance
4.    Job Search & Resume Assistance
5.    Free Bag of Produce
6.    Programs and Services all in one place
7.    FUN!!!

More info on WeConnect Weekend is available here.

Sunday: Free H1N1 Flu Clinic at St. Mary's

It's not too late to get vaccinated!  Public Health officials report that many people are at risk for H1N1.  The Hispanic community is especially at risk because many people have still not gotten their vaccines. Most people will recover from the pandemic H1N1 flu without treatment. However, just like the seasonal flu, pandemic H1N1 flu can lead to serious health problems and even death.


Free H1N1 Flu Shot Clinic
Sunday, March 28, 2010 
From 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
St. Mary’s Catholic Church
407 S. Chicago St., Los Ángeles, CA 90033

Pregnant women; adults younger than 25 years of age; young children; and people with underlying health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease, are more likely to have complications from the flu.  

Important Facts You Need to Know About the H1N1 Vaccine:

• The H1N1 vaccine is safe, effective and FDA approved.
• The vaccine is made and tested the same way as the seasonal flu vaccine, which has an excellent safety profile.
• The vaccine can provide great protection from the H1N1 flu and possibly save your life. 
• It is the number one and most effective form of prevention for the H1N1 flu.

To find other locations to get the H1N1 vaccine, visit FluShotLA.com.

H1N1 Flu Fighters

You've probably seen them on the bus. More than likely, you've seen them on the billboards.  But who are they? They are our H1N1 flu fighters!  In the coming weeks, we'll roll out several short videos of our volunteer actors that were taken during the film shoot for our PSA.

If you haven't seen the PSA, it's been running on local TV as well as on MTA's TransitTV. Check it out: 

First, meet Kathleen & Daniel.. they are mother and son.  They both also happen to be asthmatic.



Meet Wendy from La Habra...

It's not too late to get vaccinated!  To find the nearest location to get the H1N1 vaccine, visit http://www.FluShotLA.com.

Saturday: Free H1N1 Flu Shots at TEST-FEST in East LA!

According to recent statistics, more than 2 million new cases of H1N1 were reported last month alone.  Health officials say that it is not too late to get the H1N1 flu vaccination. It caused more than 18,000 hospitalizations and about 310 deaths. The full article on recent H1N1 cases is on WebMD here.

Health officials continue to say that it is not too late to get vaccinated!  This Saturday, March 20, a free H1N1 flu shot clinic will be at TEST FEST 2010 in East Los Angeles.  The event is taking place at Ruben Salazar Park at 3864 Whittier Boulevard from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

TEST FEST is Southern California's largest HIV testing and counseling event. There will be more than 10 HIV mobile testing vans, an afternoon of live music, health educators, non-profit organizations, a video game truck for the kids, food, free giveaways and more.

Musical performances by:
* Los Internacionales Pasteles Verdes
* Ricardo Cerda El Gavilan
* Luis Alberto El Paisita y Su Grupo Epidemia Norteña
* Grupo Contagio Show
* Romantico Bohemios
* Nikolas Carreon y Su Grupo Zaborett
* Banda Kumbala
* Polo Rey

Community organizations participating at TEST-FEST include Bienestar, The Wall Las Memorias Project, Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center’s Prevention on Wheels, AltaMed Health Services, Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, California State University, Long Beach, East Valley Community Health Center, JWCH Institute, among others.

TEST-FEST is sponsored by Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Office of AIDS Programs & Policy and County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation and CBS Radio LA. Health educators from LA County Department of Public Health, non profit organizations and AIDS service organizations will be on site. There will also be representatives from the LA County Sheriff’s Department, County of Los Angeles Fire Department and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

To find other locations to get an H1N1 flu shot, visit FluShotLA.com.

For more information on H1N1 and people with HIV/AIDS, resources are available here.

Upcoming Free H1N1 Flu Shot Clinics

It's not too late to get your H1N1 flu shot! The H1N1 is not the flu as usual. The virus that causes the H1N1 flu is a new type of flu virus that is different from the seasonal flu. Both types of the flu can be serious. The good news is the number one and most effective form of prevention for the flu is to get vaccinated!

Upcoming free H1N1 flu shot will be held at the following locations:

Sunday, March 14, 2010 – 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Immaculate Conception Parish
1433 James M. Wood Blvd., Los Ángeles CA, 90015

Wednesday, March 17th - 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Los Angeles Job Corps Center
221 W. 11th Street, 1st Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90015
o Guests may park neighboring parking lots for a nominal fee

Sunday, March 28, 2010 – 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
St. Mary’s Catholic Church
407 S. Chicago St., Los Ángeles, CA 90033

For more locations offering the H1N1 flu vaccine, visit FluShotLA.com.

New Study: H1N1 Hits Pregnant Women Particularly Hard

A new study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, finds that pregnant women are hit particularly hard especially if they have asthma, diabetes or obesity.  The research looked at 43 pregnant women with H1N1 flu, who were admitted to six different hospitals in 2009... 

Two women were admitted during their first trimester, 13 during their second trimester and 28 in their third trimester. Twenty-five had been hospitalized due to flu-like illness; all but one of these women spent less than a week in the hospital. But among the 11 patients admitted for pneumonia, seven were hospitalized for at least a week.

Half of the women had at least one other health problem, such as asthma, obesity, or diabetes mellitus, but these women did not seem to be at increased risk of pneumonia or pregnancy complications compared to women without other health problems.

In addition, 15 delivered their babies while they were hospitalized. 

The study offers further evidence that pregnant women need to get the H1N1 flu vaccine.  To read the full story, go to Reuters Health here. 

To find H1N1 resources for Pregnant Women, click here. 

To find resources for people with Asthma, click here.

To find resources for people with Diabetes, click here.

To find the nearest locations to get the flu vaccine, visit FluShotLA.com.

Free H1N1 Flu Shots in Downtown LA on Sunday, Feb 28

Español

If You Still Haven’t Gotten Your H1N1 Vaccine 

You May be Risking Your Life and Putting Your Family in Danger

The H1N1 Flu is a Serious Virus that Can Lead to Death:

The Vaccine is Safe & Effective and Can Save Your Life

Don’t Miss the Opportunity to Get FREE H1N1 Vaccines For Your Entire Family at the Following Special Community Vaccine Clinics, starting this weekend:


• Sunday, February 28, 2010 – 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Nuestra Señora Reina de Los Ángeles – La Placita
535 N. Main Street, Los Ángeles, CA 90012


• Sunday, March 14, 2010 – 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Immaculate Conception Parish
1433 James M. Wood Blvd., Los Ángeles CA, 90015


• Sunday, March 28, 2010 – 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
St. Mary’s Catholic Church
407 S. Chicago St., Los Ángeles, CA 90033

For more information, please visit www.FluShotLA.com or call the Los Angeles County Help Line toll-free at 2-1-1.

Family Copes with H1N1

Photo Credit: Joe Brier, for USA TODAY

USA Today recounts a family's struggle after two of the children come down with the H1N1 flu.  

Beri, 10, and Bailey, 13, contracted swine flu. Each posed a different challenge because their unique risks — Beri's autism and epilepsy and Bailey's asthma — made them more difficult to treat.

Read the full story in USA Today here.


Watch a video on why young people are more susceptible to H1N1:

H1N1 expert Dr. Anthony Fauci explains why younger people are more susceptible to the swine flu than Americans over the age of 65.


For more information on H1N1 for Asthmatics (and their parents), click here.
It's not too late to get vaccinated. Find the nearest location at http://www.FluShotLA.com.