Mayor Newsom Announces San Francisco´s H1N1/Swine Flu Vaccination Plans
California Desk
October 29, 2009
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Mayor Gavin Newsom announced the initial arrival of the first major shipment of the H1N1 swine flu vaccine in San Francisco. Approximately 28,000 doses of the injectable vaccine have been delivered to the San Francisco Department of Public Health. High risk patients who get their healthcare at public health clinics will begin getting the vaccine today. Injectable vaccine is also available at Kaiser and other clinician
offices throughout the City.
Meanwhile, Department of Public Health staff has begun cataloguing, organizing and distributing a large portion of H1N1 swine flu vaccine to 9 sites throughout the City in preparation for a series of H1N1 swine flu vaccination clinics designed especially for high risk individuals who do not have a primary care provider or whose primary care provider does not have the vaccine.
"This is a public health issue with a big City-wide effort behind it," said Mayor Newsom. "We are working diligently to ramp up for a series of vaccination clinics beginning on Thursday, October 29 and continuing for up to six days if necessary. Right now, we are looking for volunteers among San Francisco residents—clinical and non-clinical individuals—who want to help us deliver this vaccine to high risk residents."
City agencies are working together to ensure that the H1N1 swine flu clinics are well staffed and provisioned. A call for volunteers has gone out to city workers and to residents who want to help at the clinic sites. The City´s Department of Human Resources has created a one-stop volunteer shop scheduled to open on Tuesday, Oct 27 at One South Van Ness Avenue, from noon – 8 p.m. to make it easy for volunteers from the public to come by, fill out the necessary paper work and get fingerprinted. The staff at the Department of Public Works will be delivering vaccines throughout the City to the 9 sites where the clinics are scheduled to open. In addition, 311 customer service representatives are getting a refresher course and updated information on the times and locations of the clinics.
Because of the high demand for H1N1 Swine Flu vaccine and the importance of getting it to those who need it most, Dr. Mitch Katz, Director of Public Health, has extended those eligible for the vaccine to include both first and second tier high-risk individuals.
First Tier:
Pregnant women
All people from 6 months – 24 years of age
People who live with or provide care for infants less than 6 months of age
Health care and emergency responders with direct patient contact
Second Tier:
Adults ages 25-64 with medical conditions that put them at risk for complications from influenza (heart, lung, kidney disease, asthma, diabetes, weakened immune system)
Before going to one of the City´s 10 H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine Clinics, City health officials have this piece of advice for high risk patients: "Anyone with a primary care physician should call his/her own doctor to determine the availability of the H1N1 swine flu vaccine."
The vaccine is free of charge at vaccine sites. To find out the locations and times for the H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine clinics that begin on October 29, go to http://www.sfcdcp.org/FluVaccinesSites.html.
offices throughout the City.
Meanwhile, Department of Public Health staff has begun cataloguing, organizing and distributing a large portion of H1N1 swine flu vaccine to 9 sites throughout the City in preparation for a series of H1N1 swine flu vaccination clinics designed especially for high risk individuals who do not have a primary care provider or whose primary care provider does not have the vaccine.
"This is a public health issue with a big City-wide effort behind it," said Mayor Newsom. "We are working diligently to ramp up for a series of vaccination clinics beginning on Thursday, October 29 and continuing for up to six days if necessary. Right now, we are looking for volunteers among San Francisco residents—clinical and non-clinical individuals—who want to help us deliver this vaccine to high risk residents."
City agencies are working together to ensure that the H1N1 swine flu clinics are well staffed and provisioned. A call for volunteers has gone out to city workers and to residents who want to help at the clinic sites. The City´s Department of Human Resources has created a one-stop volunteer shop scheduled to open on Tuesday, Oct 27 at One South Van Ness Avenue, from noon – 8 p.m. to make it easy for volunteers from the public to come by, fill out the necessary paper work and get fingerprinted. The staff at the Department of Public Works will be delivering vaccines throughout the City to the 9 sites where the clinics are scheduled to open. In addition, 311 customer service representatives are getting a refresher course and updated information on the times and locations of the clinics.
Because of the high demand for H1N1 Swine Flu vaccine and the importance of getting it to those who need it most, Dr. Mitch Katz, Director of Public Health, has extended those eligible for the vaccine to include both first and second tier high-risk individuals.
First Tier:
Pregnant women
All people from 6 months – 24 years of age
People who live with or provide care for infants less than 6 months of age
Health care and emergency responders with direct patient contact
Second Tier:
Adults ages 25-64 with medical conditions that put them at risk for complications from influenza (heart, lung, kidney disease, asthma, diabetes, weakened immune system)
Before going to one of the City´s 10 H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine Clinics, City health officials have this piece of advice for high risk patients: "Anyone with a primary care physician should call his/her own doctor to determine the availability of the H1N1 swine flu vaccine."
The vaccine is free of charge at vaccine sites. To find out the locations and times for the H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine clinics that begin on October 29, go to http://www.sfcdcp.org/FluVaccinesSites.html.
Print
Email
