H1N1 flu vaccines still available in El Dorado County
El Dorado County public health officials say it’s not too late to get the H1N1 flu vaccine.
The county’s Health Services Department will offer the vaccine free to county residents of all ages at two community clinics this month.
The first is scheduled from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday in the multipurpose room at South Lake Tahoe Middle School, 2940 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe. The second will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 18 in the fellowship hall at Light of the Hills Lutheran Church, 3100 Rodeo Road, Cameron Park, behind Burke Junction.
The H1N1 vaccine also is available by appointment at the El Dorado County Health Services Department by calling (530) 621-6100 in Placerville or (530) 573-3155 in South Lake Tahoe.
During February, South Lake Tahoe residents may also receive the vaccine through one of the walk-in clinics held from 1 to 4 p.m. each Wednesday at the Health Services Department, 1360 Johnson Blvd., Suite 103, in South Lake Tahoe.
Health officials say children 9 years old and younger should receive two doses of the vaccine, administered at least four weeks apart, to have the best protection. Some individuals, such as people who are severely allergic to eggs and infants younger than 6 months old, should not receive the H1N1 vaccine.
Updated information on the H1N1 flu is available on the Web site at www.edcgov.us/publichealth.
H1N1 vaccination clinics
Many retail pharmacies in the region are offering H1N1 flu shots. Availability and price vary, so call your pharmacy to get the latest. Meanwhile, area counties are winding down their free H1N1 vaccination clinics. The clinics below are open to all county residents.
Sacramento County
• Today: 1-5 p.m., Chabolla Center, 610 Chabolla Ave., Galt.
• Friday: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., County Administrative Center, 700 H St., Sacramento.
El Dorado County
• Today: 1-3 p.m., Pioneer Bible Church, 6851 Mount Aukum Road, Somerset.
Placer County
• Today: 2-6 p.m., McBean Park, 65 McBean Park Drive, Lincoln.
Yolo County
• Today and Jan. 21: 2-5 p.m., Yolo County Health Department, 500-B Jefferson Blvd., West Sacramento.
• Tuesday: 2-5 p.m., Winters Public Library, 708 Railroad Ave., Winters.
• Wednesday: 2-5 p.m., Yolo County Health Department, 137 N. Cottonwood St., Woodland.
• Jan. 25: 2-5 p.m., Yolo County Health Department, 137 N. Cottonwood St., Woodland.
• Jan. 27: 2-5 p.m., Yolo County Health Department, 137 N. Cottonwood St., Woodland.
Many Rite Aid stores offer swine flu shots
Still need a dose of protection against the H1N1 flu virus? Rite Aid stores announced Wednesday that many of its stores in California are making shots available for purchase.
Health officials have urged people to be vaccinated against the so-called swine flu. County health departments also offer shots.
To see which Rite Aid stores are offering the service, at a cost of $15 per shot, visit www.riteaid.com/H1N1.
– Bobby Caina Calvan
Sacramento County holds two H1N1 clinics this week
Sacramento County Public Health is offering two H1N1 flu vaccination clinics this week.
The first is today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Rosemont High School, 9594 Kiefer Blvd., Sacramento.
And the second is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday at Natomas High School, 3301 Fong Ranch Road, Sacramento.
Vaccinations are free and available to Sacramento County residents.
Vaccine’s bumpy road
The drive to roll out and administer a vaccine against the H1N1 flu virus has hit a number of bumps:
• Initial federal government predictions that 50 million doses would be available in October and more than 100 million in November were unrealistic. The vaccine is only now becoming more widely available. As of last week, California had received nearly 10 million doses.
• Manufacturers already in production for regular doses of the seasonal flu vaccine had to shift to production of the H1N1 vaccine – a process that took longer than expected.
• California gave Kaiser Permanente special access to the first wave of vaccines in October, ahead of other health care providers with a greater proportion of high-risk patients.
• Many counties reported initially receiving only a trickle of the supplies they had requested.
• Supplies that were delivered often arrived with little or no warning.
• Some area counties were able to offer free mass vaccination clinics before others. Sacramento has been holding clinics for a month. Sacramento, Placer, Yolo and El Dorado counties now offer clinics open to everybody.
– Anna Tong