News and Alerts
Posted: October 23, 2009
Contact: Mark Netherda, MD
Sonoma County Deputy Public Health Officer
707-565-4401
UPDATE: Please visit the 2009 H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) website for current information about where to get vaccinated.
Public Health to Offer H1N1 Vaccination Clinics This Saturday
The Sonoma County Department of Health Services will offer 2009 H1N1 vaccine to Sonoma County residents at two flu clinics on Saturday, October 24th. The vaccination clinics will take place at the following locations:
Saturday, October 24th
9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Windsor High School - DRIVE THROUGH ONLY
8695 Windsor Road
Windsor, CA 95492
(map this location)Saturday, October 24th
9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Casa Grande High School - WALK IN ONLY
333 Casa Grande Road
Petaluma, CA 94954
(map this location)
The clinics will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The vaccinations are free and no appointment is necessary. Additional vaccination clinics are planned for November and December. A separate vaccine to prevent seasonal flu vaccine is recommended for most individuals, but seasonal flu vaccinations will NOT be provided at the clinics this Saturday or at the November clinics. Only the December clinics will offer both 2009 H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines.
The 2009 H1N1 (Swine Flu) virus is circulating in communities and has continued to cause illness through the Fall. Most cases of H1N1 Influenza are fairly mild, but influenza can be a serious disease; in Sonoma County, there have been over 80 hospitalizations and 10 deaths due to this virus. The best prevention for influenza is vaccination.
Nationally, vaccine distribution is rolling out to states and counties. Most people will get the 2009 H1N1 vaccine at local doctors' offices, medical clinics, health centers, and pharmacies. Dr. Mark Netherda, Deputy Public Health Officer stated, "The purpose of these first Public Health vaccination clinics is to serve those Sonoma County residents at greatest risk, especially those who do not have a medical provider, or other means to get the vaccine."
The Centers for Disease Control has prioritized the following groups to be the first to receive the 2009 H1N1:
- All people age 6 months to 24 years of age.
- Adults with chronic medical conditions age 25 to 64 (examples: diabetes, asthma, heart conditions, cancer, HIV/AIDS).
- Pregnant women.
- Caregivers and household members of infants under 6 months of age.
- Healthcare and emergency medical service workers.
Individuals who are not in one of these categories should not expect to be vaccinated until the vaccine becomes widely available, probably in late November or early December. Once the priority groups have been immunized, it is likely there will be enough vaccine available for all who wish to receive it. Adults over age 64 years, regardless of health status, are not included in these first clinics because studies have shown that most older individuals have some immunity to 2009 H1N1 from exposure to flu viruses over the courses of their lives.
Sonoma County Public Health plans to offer additional H1N1 vaccination clinics later this year for people who cannot receive it from their own health care providers. These clinics are currently scheduled for the following dates and locations (subject to vaccine availability):
- November 14th - Windsor High School and Lawrence Cook Middle School in Santa Rosa (H1N1 only)
- November 21st - Casa Grande High School in Petaluma (H1N1 only)
- December 5th - "Flu Shot Saturday" clinics in various locations around the county (Seasonal flu and H1N1)
The vaccine provided at the clinics this Saturday is an injectable form which contains a preservative called thimerosal. For more information about thimerosal see: www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/thimerosal_qa.htm.
Call the Public Health Information Line at (707) 565-4477 or check the Sonoma County Public Health website: www.sonoma-county.org/h1n1 for updates and last minute details.
Persons with health insurance are encouraged to contact their health care provider about getting an H1N1 flu vaccination.
- Kaiser members in Santa Rosa can call 393-4832.
- Kaiser members in Petaluma can call 765-3560.
- American Lung Association: www.flucliniclocator.org
- Maxim Health Systems-website: www.findaflushot.com
- Sutter VNA and Hospice: www.sutterhealth.org/health/flushot/, or call 1-800-500-2400
In the meantime, everyone can help protect themselves, their loved ones and our community by following these simple prevention tips:
- wash your hands often
- cover your coughs and sneezes
- stay home from school or work if sick
For more information about both the seasonal and 2009 H1N1 flu, call the Public Health Information Line at (707) 565-4477 or check the Sonoma County Public Health website: www.sonoma-county.org/PublicHealth.
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