Leaders in the Long Beach health community met yesterday at the Department of Health and Human Services, to introduce a unified plan for battling a potential influenza outbreak with a special focus on the H1N1 Virus. 

City Health Officer Dr. Helene Calvet said that the city has received 20,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccination, and has ordered more.  A free community vaccination clinic will be held at the Long Beach Convention Center on Saturday, November 7 (9:00am-4:00pm), where members of the community may receive free vaccinations to protect themselves from the H1N1 virus.  People interested in receiving the vaccinations, however, must fall into one of the following categories:

• Child or young adult (between ages of 6 months and 24 years)
• Pregnant
• Caretaker of an infant under 6 months of age
• People aged 24-64 with chronic medical conditions (e.g. asthma, diabetes)
• Healthcare workers
• Emergency medical providers

Dr. Calvet encouraged residents to take advantage of this free clinic, but stressed that those who do not fall into one of the above target groups will be turned away.

"Unfortunately, people are going to be unhappy if they're turned away so we're trying to get the word out to just not come," she said.  Dr. Calvet also noted that the Health Department has been following difficulties that other cities have had with shortages of the vaccine.  "We have been following L.A.'s problems, and we expect to have problems of our own," she said.  There is not yet a timetable for Long Beach to receive additional orders of the vaccine, but Dr. Calvet said that additional clinics will be scheduled as more vaccines arrive.

Long Beach Unified School District spokesman Chris Eftychiou announced that the district will hold two free clinics for students (aged 3-18) to receive vaccinations.  The clinics are not restricted to LBUSD students. Those dates are as follows:

• November 4, 3:00-7:00pm at Cabrillo High School
• November 5, 3:00-7:00pm at Jordan High School

"The district expects further shipments and we plan to schedule more clinics," Eftychiou said.

Representatives from each of the four major hospitals in Long Beach attended to present a unified message.  Employees at St. Mary's Medical Center, Long Beach Memorial, Pacific Hospital and Community Hospital of Long Beach will all be asked to receive the vaccine.  Those who do not will be asked to wear protective masks, in an effort to stop the spread of influenza throughout hospitals.  The hospitals are also asking all children below the age of 16 to not visit hospitals unless they are seeking care, because they are most at risk of contracting the virus.

More than 150 local health care providers have registered to receive the vaccination, and Dr. Calvet advised patients to follow up with their providers to find out when the vaccine will arrive.

More info to come...

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