MAYOR NEWSOM ANNOUNCES FREE H1N1 SHOTS
California Desk
September 04, 2009
San Francisco, CA—Mayor Gavin Newsom today announced that San Francisco will be organizing free H1N1 (swine) flu clinics throughout the City and County of San Francisco, utilizing a combination of public schools, private schools and community centers.
"We anticipate receiving our first shipment of 100,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine sometime in late October to begin distributing free of charge," said Mayor Newsom. "This initial shipment will be available first to those in groups who are at highest risk for more severe disease. But eventually, everyone who wants protection from H1N1 will be able to get it."
The clinics will be set up within days of receiving the vaccine. Plans are to provide 10-15 clinic sites within walking distance of private and public schools. Two sets of clinics, at least three weeks apart, will be staffed by a mix of clinical and non-clinical personnel and will offer H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine only. Because the H1N1 (swine) flu requires two doses, clinics will remain in their original location to make it easy to return for a second dose of vaccine.
Roving H1N1 vaccination teams will service schools that are not within walking distance of sites and other at-risk populations such as homeless shelters.
San Francisco´s first supply of H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine will be distributed to hospitals and emergency responder agencies. Approximately 30,000 doses are expected each week after the first shipment.
The H1N1 (swine) flu clinics will accommodate a three-tier system of priority, different from the traditional (seasonal) flu recommendations. Tier one, or the first group to receive the vaccine, will be pregnant women, children 6 months to age 24, care givers of children younger than 6 months and emergency responders and health care workers. The next tier will be for anyone 24-65 with chronic conditions. The final tier is reserved for people over 65. Older adults have demonstrated some immunity to the H1N1 (swine) flu strain. Pregnant women and children are more vulnerable and at higher risk of developing severe complications.
To prevent the spread of flu virus, the Department of Public Health recommends staying home when sick, coughing or sneezing into your sleeve or a tissue (not bare hands) and frequent hand washing with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
"We anticipate receiving our first shipment of 100,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine sometime in late October to begin distributing free of charge," said Mayor Newsom. "This initial shipment will be available first to those in groups who are at highest risk for more severe disease. But eventually, everyone who wants protection from H1N1 will be able to get it."
The clinics will be set up within days of receiving the vaccine. Plans are to provide 10-15 clinic sites within walking distance of private and public schools. Two sets of clinics, at least three weeks apart, will be staffed by a mix of clinical and non-clinical personnel and will offer H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine only. Because the H1N1 (swine) flu requires two doses, clinics will remain in their original location to make it easy to return for a second dose of vaccine.
Roving H1N1 vaccination teams will service schools that are not within walking distance of sites and other at-risk populations such as homeless shelters.
San Francisco´s first supply of H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine will be distributed to hospitals and emergency responder agencies. Approximately 30,000 doses are expected each week after the first shipment.
The H1N1 (swine) flu clinics will accommodate a three-tier system of priority, different from the traditional (seasonal) flu recommendations. Tier one, or the first group to receive the vaccine, will be pregnant women, children 6 months to age 24, care givers of children younger than 6 months and emergency responders and health care workers. The next tier will be for anyone 24-65 with chronic conditions. The final tier is reserved for people over 65. Older adults have demonstrated some immunity to the H1N1 (swine) flu strain. Pregnant women and children are more vulnerable and at higher risk of developing severe complications.
To prevent the spread of flu virus, the Department of Public Health recommends staying home when sick, coughing or sneezing into your sleeve or a tissue (not bare hands) and frequent hand washing with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
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