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Time to get your fall flu shot

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It’s once again time to roll up your sleeve for the annual flu shot, which health experts recommend for ages 6 months through adults.

While the vaccine is no guarantee one will not catch the flu, medical experts say it can help one ward off the three most prevalent strains predicted by the Centers for Disease Control for the 2015-16 season and decrease the severity and length of an illness. Doing so is important because sometimes the flu can lead to complications and be fatal, even among those without pre-existing health conditions.

Medical clinics and pharmacies throughout the area have started providing the vaccine, which includes strains of Influenza A, B and H1N1.

Palomar Health is among those making it easy to get the vaccine. Its low-cost community clinics set up in churches, senior centers and hospitals are for ages 9 through adult. The first of its 67 clinics will be held Wednesday in Poway. They are scheduled through mid-January, though it is advisable to get immunized as soon as possible. Since immunity lasts six to 12 months, the vaccine needs to be administered yearly.

It takes about two weeks for immunized people to be protected from the flu virus. The new season began on July 1. During the 2014-15 season there were 6,698 confirmed flu cases in the county by mid-April, with 138 of those infected requiring treatment in the ICU and 79 deaths, according to county health officials.

In addition to getting the vaccine, health officials say to follow tips like staying home if sick, following good hand and cough hygiene — washing hands frequently and coughing into one’s elbow — and, if possible, keeping one’s distance from those known to be ill.

For young children two shots are sometimes needed — especially if never vaccinated against the flu before. Children as young as 6 months can receive the vaccine and a preservative-free version is available for pregnant women through their doctor. Children with asthma must also be vaccinated at a doctor’s office.

Palomar Health’s clinics are providing the shot for $20 per person. Medicare is accepted for those who qualify. Those individuals must bring their Medicare and supplemental insurance cards. Payment is due at the clinic, payable by cash or check. The latter must include name and address imprinted by the bank and a photo ID. Receipts are available upon request.

Because children younger than 9 often need two doses of influenza vaccine, they cannot be vaccinated at the community clinics. However, Palomar Health’s Expresscare Clinics can give the vaccination to those as young as 2 years. For walk-in locations and hours, go to www.PalomarHealth.org/expresscare.

As for the Palomar Health clinics, the entire list can be viewed at tinyurl.com/PH-flu2015.


Palomar Health will be administering the flu shot at these local community clinics. The cost is $20.

POWAY

• North County Inland Older Adults Center, 15905 Pomerado Road, on Wednesday, Sept. 9 from noon to 2 p.m.

• Pomerado Hospital lobby, 15615 Pomerado Road, on Tuesday, Sept. 15 from 2 to 5 p.m.; on Saturday, Oct. 10 from 10 a.m. to noon; on Friday, Oct. 16 from 3 to 6 p.m.; on Monday, Oct. 19 from 4 to 7 p.m.; on Friday, Nov. 6 from noon to 3 p.m.; on Thursday, Nov. 19 from 3 to 5 p.m.; on Thursday, Dec. 3 from 3 to 5 p.m.; on Tuesday, Dec. 8 from 3 to 5 p.m.; on Thursday, Dec. 18 from 3 to 5 p.m.; on Tuesday, Jan. 5 from 3 to 5 p.m.; and on Tuesday, Jan. 12 from 3 to 5 p.m.

• St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, 16275 Pomerado Road, on Sunday, Sept. 20 from 9 a.m. to noon.

• St. Michael’s Catholic Church, 15546 Pomerado Road, on Sunday, Oct. 4 from 8 to 11 a.m.

• Poway Senior Center, 13094 Civic Center Drive, on Friday, Oct. 16 from 9 to 11 a.m.

• Poway Library, 13137 Poway Road, on Saturday, Oct. 17 from 2 to 4 p.m.

• The Connection Church, 14047 Twin Peaks Road, on Thursday, Oct. 22 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

4S RANCH

• 4S Ranch Library, 10433 Reserve Drive, on Saturday, Sept. 19 from 1 to 4 p.m.; on Monday, Oct. 26 from 3 to 5 p.m.; and on Friday, Nov. 20 from 3 - 5 p.m.

RANCHO BERNARDO

• Rancho Bernardo Senior Services, 16769 Bernardo Center Drive, on Monday, Sept. 28 from 9 a.m. to noon.

• The Church at Rancho Bernardo, 111740 Bernardo Plaza Court, on Sunday, Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to noon.

• Ed Brown Senior Center, 18402 W. Bernardo Drive, on Tuesday, Oct. 20 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

• San Rafael Catholic Church, 17252 Bernardo Center Drive, on Sunday, Oct. 25 from 8 a.m. to noon.

RANCHO PENASQUITOS

• Canyon Rim Apartments, 10845 Via Los Narcisos, on Monday, Dec. 14 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

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