After an influenza vaccine shortage created a nationwide flu
frenzy several months ago, local health officials announced
vaccines are available to all San Benito County residents and
anyone interested in receiving one of the coveted shots should get
one.
Hollister – After an influenza vaccine shortage created a nationwide flu frenzy several months ago, local health officials announced vaccines are available to all San Benito County residents and anyone interested in receiving one of the coveted shots should get one.
The flu shot season, which usually lasts from November to February, has been extended through mid-March so as many people as possible can be protected, according to a statement released by the San Benito County Public Health Services.
Despite the fear caused by the vaccine shortage, this has been one of the best flu seasons in the past few years with only 62 cases of flu for the entire Northern California region, reported by Kaiser Permanente between December and January. However there has been an increase in reported cases over the past week, said Monica Johnson, Kaiser nurse and Hollister City Councilwoman.
“In general we’re still looking really good,” Johnson said. “We’re not considering it an outbreak of flu.”
Before state health officials recently lifted the restrictions on vaccines, only those considered at risk were eligible, which included those over 65 and anyone with a chronic illness. Now that everyone is eligible, Johnson said residents should get a shot because the season hasn’t peaked yet.
The shortage earlier this year came when nearly half of the nation’s expected vaccines were not delivered because a major distributor had its license to manufacture the shots suspended due to contamination problems.
During the shortage, hospitals and health departments held clinics for only the at-risk patients. However, the San Benito County Health Department now has both adult and pediatric flu vaccines available and will be holding one final flu shot clinic on Wednesday.
Hazel Hawkins Hospital has about 100 flu shots available at the community clinic, according to Frankie Valent, director of marketing. The shots are $20 and available by appointment only, Valent said. The hospital’s health clinic in San Juan Bautista does not have any vaccines left, she said.
“Anybody who feels they need a flu vaccine should get one,” Valent said.
Dr. Peter Coelho, who received about 300 doses from the health department in November, still has 160 left and will dole them out free of charge to anyone who wants one, he said.
“They can have them,” he said. “Just make sure they get them.”
Before heading to Hazel Hawkins or the public health agency’s clinic, health officials urge residents to contact the provider they went to last year to see if they are administering the shots.
The San Benito County Health Department’s clinic will be held on Wednesday from 1:30 to 4:30pm at 439 Fourth St., and the Hazel Hawkins Community Health Clinic is located at 930 Sunset Drive Building 3 in Hollister. Anyone interested in receiving a shot should call the health department at 637-5367, Hazel Hawkins Community Clinic at 636-2664 or Dr. Peter Coelho at 637-5873.
