The first Swine Flu shots have arrived in Kern County, and the Health Department is scheduling clinics to get the inoculations to the public as soon as possible, according to Kern County Health Officer Dr. Claudia Jonah.
Clinics are scheduled for as early as Wednesday, according to a news conference Monday afternoon.
The bad news: The Health Department received only a partial shipment of 7,000 doses. Of those, 5,000 are shots and 2,000 doses of the nasal mist.
Some of the vaccines will be distributed to local doctors, and the public was urged to check with their primary care providers to see if shots are available there.
The public clinic are set for:
• Wednesday, October 28, 2009 from 9 to 11a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. at the Delano Public Health Office, 455 Lexington Street, Delano.
• Wednesday, October 28, 2009 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Health Department, 1800 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Bakersfield.
• Thursday, October 29, 2009 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Stockdale High School.
• Thursday, October 29, 2009 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Southwest Regional Center in Taft.
• Saturday, October 31, 2009 from 9 a.m. to noon at South High School.
• Tuesday, November 3, 2009 from 4 to 7 p.m. at North High School.
• Wednesday, November 4, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Kerr McGee Center in Ridgecrest.
• Friday, November 6, 2009 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Pine Mountain Club.
Previously in Kern, only the nasal mist vaccine for H1N1 was available. Vaccines of all types were available for the seasonal flu.
The shots are appropriate for pregnant women, a high risk group; Expectant mothers are urged to avoid the nasal mist.
The first round of vaccines are aimed at anyone 6 months to 24 years old; people 24-64 years old who have underlying medical conditions; pregnant women, and anyone who cares for babies under the age of 6 months.
Some of the vaccines will be distributed to local doctors, and the public was urged to check with their primary care providers to see if shots are available there.
There have been nine Kern County deaths connected to the H1N1 virus. They were four women and five men, ranging in age from 25 too 54. The first eight had an average age of 41 and all were residents of the greater Bakersfield area.
All were sick before they caught the flu, and those ‘underlying conditions’ are believed to have contributed to their deaths. ‘Underlying conditions’ could include anything from heart disease, lung disease, immune deficiency, diabetes, asthma to obesity and even pregnancy.
The county’s Swine Flu Hotline is 1-877-81VIRUS. Information is available at Public Health's web site, www.co.kern.ca.us/health
Public Health’s constant reminder is: The best ways to best protect your family and yourself is to follow the three "C's" of disease prevention:
• Cover your cough
• Clean your hands
• Confine sick people at home
