County: Residents Should Prepare for Flu Season

MENIFEE, CA -- Menifee residents who want a free flu shot will have an opportunity to get one next week during a Riverside County Department of Public Health exercise.

Health officials will be conducting a "flu pandemic drill" on Oct. 2 at the Sun City Civic Association building, 26580 Sun City Blvd. As part of the mock triage and treatment exercise, clinicians will be dispensing flu shots to any member of the public who wants one, according to the Department of Public Health.

Shots will be available from 9 a.m. to noon.

"At public health, we know we need to be ready in the event of a public health emergency," said Dr. Cameron Kaiser, the county's public health officer. "Providing vaccinations ... is one of the ways that we can test our system. It's a win-win. We test our capabilities, and residents get a free flu shot."

Kaiser generally recommended vaccinations for anyone over 6 months old.

Shots can be obtained from residents' own physicians, at participating pharmacies, and at any of the 10 county health clinics, or the Riverside University Medical Center in Moreno Valley.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention classified the 2017- 18 influenza season as "one of the longest in recent years," with patient visits escalating in November and reaching a peak in February.

There were nearly 200 pediatric flu-related deaths reported to the federal agency during the 2017-18 season, which concluded in early spring.

Riverside County residents who need more information about vaccinations can contact the health department at (888) 246-1215, or visit www.rivcoimm.org.

--City News Service/Shutterstock image