BEVERLY HILLS, CA — With flu season bumping up in opposition to the coronavirus outbreak, well being officers are warning Los Angeles County residents about the specter of a “twindemic” overwhelming hospitals this fall and winter.
Officers are encouraging residents to get their flu pictures now in hopes upon enhancing upon final 12 months when solely half of People acquired a flu shot. Free flu vaccines are being supplied by the county and within the Metropolis of Los Angeles. Residents can discover a flu vaccine via their physician or at native pharmacies. To search out the closest flu shot clinic, search VaccineFinder.org.
Groups from USC’s College of Pharmacy will administer free flu pictures to folks in Los Angeles starting in October, Mayor Eric Garcetti introduced Wednesday.
Garcetti mentioned he needed folks to recollect what life was like in April when restrictions had been tight on going wherever in public.
“I need us to recall the horrors that we noticed taking part in out on the information, the fears that we had, the scenes that we noticed taking part in out world wide from Manhattan to Milan,” Garcetti mentioned.
Garcetti mentioned the groups from USC would rotate across the metropolis to locations in want of flu pictures.
Garcetti mentioned though town’s numbers are happening, he mentioned well being officers are anxious a couple of “twin-demic” between influenza and COVID- 19.
“Right here on this metropolis of angels, you could have helped us stop the worst- case situation that we noticed play out somewhere else,” Garcetti mentioned.
“However we’re not immune from the nightmare that we noticed, as we head into the autumn, there are issues we have to be acutely aware of proper now to be sure that we do our half to guard each other.”
Garcetti mentioned on the USC flu shot websites, folks might be requested to offer their medical insurance coverage card, however nobody might be turned down for not having one.
In keeping with town, every website will apply the required precautions to guard all workers and sufferers. These embrace strict masking necessities, extra disinfecting between vaccinations, bodily distancing, and different measures to take care of well being and security. USC Pharmacy groups may even be screening to make sure you can safely obtain the flu vaccine.
Flu vaccines are broadly accessible throughout Los Angeles this fall, outdoors of Metropolis-run websites.
Residents can obtain a flu vaccination at L.A. County Public Well being Clinic Neighborhood Clinics.
The Los Angeles County Library might be internet hosting flu clinic occasions this season.
For extra data on the flu, please go to the County of Los Angeles Public Health Flu Season website.
In keeping with the Los Angeles County Public Well being Division, it’s particularly vital to get a flu vaccine in the event you:
- Are 6 months via 18 years of age
- Are 65 years of age and older
- Are pregnant or simply had a child
- Stay in a nursing house or long-term care house
- Have a weakened immune system
- Have power medical situation (bronchial asthma, coronary heart illness and stroke, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, most cancers)
- Stay with or care for somebody who’s extra prone to have flu problems
- Are a healthcare supplier.
ERIC HEINZ, Metropolis Information Service contributed to this report.
