The start of the fall season normally ushers in the normal yearly flu vaccine season.
Beginning October and November most people will traditionally be flocking to their doctor’s clinics and pharmacies to get their yearly flu shots.
Some will wait to see if flu viruses are more severe or more prevalent than usual until they get their shots. Others just do not do shots at all.
If the viral infection is particularly bad then many people will still be getting their shots by December and even January of the next year.
CDC Briefs On This Season's Flu Vaccine
The Question Now is: Flu Shots, Do You Really Need One Or Not?
The answer is really up to you and me. But you can clickhere for additional information regarding this long standing debate.
Now what ever your stand is if you are in So Cal, then knowing that you might be able to get free flu shots, and more importantly when and where could come in handy. Here is a partial short list.
Free Flu Shots in So Cal 11/2/2015 Torrance Recreation Center 10 am - 12 pm 3341 Torrance Blvd., Torrance
11/3/2015 USC 9 am - 2 pm 700 Childs Way, LA Weingart Senior Center 1 pm - 3 pm 5220 Olivia Ave., Lakewood
11/4/2015 Marycrest Manor 2 pm - 4 pm 10664 St. James Dr., Culver City
Woodcrest Library 1 pm - 3 pm 1340 w 106th St., LA
11/5/2015 Claremont Taylor Hall 9 am - 12 pm 1775 N Indian Hill Blvd., Claremont
11/6/2015 Evergreen Baptist Church 10 am - 1 pm 323 Workman Mill Rd., La Puente
11/7/2015 Glendale Health Festival 10 am - 3 pm 1401 N Verdugo Rd., Glendale
West Hollywood Public Library 10 am - 3 pm 625 N San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood
11/8/2015 St. Raphael Catholic Church 9 am - 2 pm 924 W 70th St., LA
Highlands Church 9 am - 12 pm 39625 20th St., Palmdale
11/9/2015 Our Lady of Holy Rosary 9 am - 11 am 7800 Vineland Ave., Sun Valley
And the list goes on, please verify by calling or checking them out online.
For a complete list, call or visit 211, or better yet visit the County of LA Public Healthwebsite.
It's that time again. (Photo: D. Lobanov, Shutterstock)
To Flu Shot or Not?
Many people swear but it and do it year after year ever
since they can remember. Some even get vaccinated twice a year or every six
months.
But the vast majority do not believe in the flu shot or have
altogether stop getting vaccinated.
How so? There are so many studies about the
flu shot being only beneficial to a small segment of the population or that
there are side effects to it or whatever effects it has is not really worth
taking it, or even it being more dangerous than the flu itself etc. etc. etc.
I understand that for some, it is against their faith or what they believe in. Others, they are just perfect human specimens or so health conscious they don't need one or abhor the thought of injecting these chemicals in their bodies.
Luckily the Choice is Yours!
Well, the choice is really up to you. Nobody’s forcing anybody. But it’s there if you want to. If money is the only reason then there are places to go where you can get one for free.
And if and when you want to have one, right now is the time
to do so.
So if you have health insurance (hopefully you do) then head
on over to your regular provider or clinic or pharmacy and take it.
No Cost Flu Shots
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health do offer
flu vaccinations at no-cost at community vaccination events throughout LA
County. See below for the schedule and places to go to.
Who Should Get Flu Vaccinations?
According to the United States Center for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC), everyone aged six months and older should be vaccinated
against the flu, most especially those who are at higher risk of developing
serious complications (such as pneumonia). This includes people with certain
medical conditions or weakened immune system or chronic medical condition (for
instance, diabetes, asthma and chronic lung disease, like cystic fibrosis, asthma, or COPD), pregnant women, children under the age of five and adults over the age of 65.
Flu Shot Debate
One thing that normally doesn't pop out in the “to have a flu
shot or not” debate is that people are people. We are all different. People who
were born and grew up in So Cal (or wherever else in the U.S. Mainland) is
probably immune to most everything in their environment already.
But So Cal is a melting pot of different cultures, and yes
different people means different viruses coming in and out (hopefully not the
ebola virus). Different people means there might be new strains every single
flu season and so if you are on the high risk population, then it may really be
a good idea to have one.
Two, if you are the immigrant and you are currently living in So Cal
then you might need one because you most probably aren't immune to the viruses
here.
Three, if you are living with a high risk person or taking
care of one, then of course it’s logical to have it too.
On the other hand, if you live alone, do not take care of anyone, or
haven’t had a flu or gotten sick all your life then you might not need
one.
Free Flu Shots in So
Cal
10/10/2014 Alondra Park Gym, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM 3335 Redondo Beach Blvd Torrance
10/16/2014 Central Farmers Market, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM 4301
S. Central Avenue LA
10/19/2014 Youngnak Presbyterian Church, 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM
1721 N Broadway Ave LA
10/22/2014
Covina Joslyn Senior Center, 9:00
AM to 11:30 AM 815 N. Barranca Ave Covina
Chinatown Senior Service Center,
9:00 AM to 12:00 PM 600 N. Broadway Ave LA
Pico Rivera Senior Center, 9:00 AM
to 11:00 AM 9200 Mines Ave Pico Rivera
10/24/2014
La Crescenta Library, 1:00 PM to
3:00 PM 2809 Foothill Blvd La Crescenta
Aviation Gym, 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM 1935
Manhattan Beach Blvd Redondo Beach
10/25/2014
Nury Martinez Health Fair, 10:00 AM
to 2:00 PM 14702 Sylvan Street Van Nuys
South El Monte Community Center, 10
AM to 2 PM 1530 Central Ave South EL Monte
Highland Park Recreation Center,
10:00 AM to 2:00 PM 6150 Piedmont Ave LA
New Commandment Church, 10:00 AM to
2:00 PM 15548 Paramount Blvd Paramount
Watts Health Farmers Market, 9:30
AM to 2:00 PM 10300 S. Central Ave LA
Little Company of Mary, 9:00 AM to
12:00 PM 1300 W. 7th Street San Pedro
10/27/2014 Benjamin Franklin Library, 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM
2200 E. 1st Street LA
And the list goes on, so for a complete list, call211, or visit the County of LA
Public Health website.
Autumn’s Yearly Rite of Passage
