Hollister
– A shortage of public health nurses has resulted in the
reduction of immunization clinic services at San Benito County
Public Health Services.
Hollister – A shortage of public health nurses has resulted in the reduction of immunization clinic services at San Benito County Public Health Services.
Beginning April 10, the public services agency will no longer provide weekly immunization clinics. Instead, it will provide bimonthly immunizations exclusively for children up to the age of 3. These immunizations will be by appointment only.
“For now we need to limit our clinics, but we will continue to be doing immunizations for our most vulnerable,” said Dr. Liz Falade, health officer.
The clinic, which previously provided services to those up to the age of 18, will now be referring those patients to other medical facilities and family practice doctors.
Falade said the department hopes the reduction will be temporary.
The county’s public health services agency has only half of its eight nursing positions filled. The department is working to fill the four vacant nurse positions. Falade said a lot of this is due to a nationwide nursing shortage – although public health positions typically pay less than other nursing jobs.
“We are working on recruitment, so when we can hire more nurses, we’ll expand our services once again. Our aim is to always meet the needs of our community,” Falade said.
The agency will also be offering special immunization clinics in the future. Falade said there are plans to provide a clinic for the human papillomavirus vaccination and a flu shot clinic in the future.
The new services will be held the second and fourth Tuesday of every month, in both the mornings and afternoons by appointment.
Alice Joy covers education for the Free Lance. She can be reached at 637-5566 ext. 336 or
aj**@fr***********.com
.
