Rivco’s First School-Based H1N1 Flu Clinics Start Next Week
For the first time in Riverside County, students will receive the H1N1 flu vaccine at on-campus flu-shot clinics beginning Monday, Nov. 2.
Officials with the county Department of Public Health will provide nasal spray vaccination at a school in Coachella and three elementary schools in Banning. Priority for the vaccination will be given to children age 2 to 12.
“Children have been adversely affected by this new flu virus and are a priority in our vaccination efforts,” said county Health Officer Erick Frykman.
Additional shipments of the H1N1 flu shot are expected in the next few weeks. Flu clinics are planned for schools and childcare centers countywide as additional vaccine becomes available. Clinics have been held at schools in the past for seasonal flu but this is the first time for H1N1 flu vaccinations.
Residents are encouraged to check first with their regular medical providers to receive the H1N1 flu vaccine. Shipments for both seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccine have been delayed and supplies are limited. Information about flu clinics and availability at the county’s 10 family care centers is available at www.rivcoph.org and by calling 2-1-1.
In the meantime, residents can take steps to protect their health and to slow the spread of illness. People with flu-like symptoms should stay home from work or school to avoid infecting others. Everyone should wash their hands regularly and cover their coughs and sneezes.
Vaccination campaigns will continue through the flu season to ensure residents have an opportunity to be immunized. County officials encourage all residents to be vaccinated in order to protect their health and their family and coworkers.
Residents also are encouraged to get the seasonal influenza shot in addition to the H1N1 vaccination. Both vaccinations are encouraged for priority groups. For information about the seasonal flu shot, visit http://www.rivcoph.org/. For updates on H1N1 flu clinics and other H1N1-related information, visit http://www.rivcoph.org/h1n1.
Locations for the school-based flu clinics are as follows:
Banning School District:
Central Elementary
November 2 (Monday)
295 N. San Gorgonio Avenue
Banning, CA 92220
9:30 a.m. - 11:30am
Hoffer Elementary
November 3 (Tuesday)
1115 E. Hoffer Street
Banning, CA 92220
9:30 a.m. - 11:30am
Hemmerling Elementary
November 6 (Friday)
1928 W. Nicolet Street
Banning, CA 92220
9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Coachella Valley School District:
Cahuilla Desert Academy
November 4 (Wednesday)
82489 Avenue 52
Coachella, CA 92236
2 p.m. - 6 p.m.
(Bilingual staff will be available for Spanish-language media)