Salinas Valley Health Offers Free Community Flu Clinics in December

Media Contact: Karina Rusk
831-759-1843

SALINAS, CA, November 27, 2017 – Salinas Valley Health (Salinas Valley Health) is partnering with the Monterey County Health Department to offer free flu vaccines to families who haven’t been vaccinated this season. Salinas Valley Health is hosting two flu clinics in December– one at Martin Luther King, Jr. Academy in Salinas and a second clinic at the Northridge Mall also in the city of Salinas. The Healthcare System has already hosted two free community flu clinics in October and November.

“We want everyone in our community to be protected from the flu,” says Pete Delgado, President/CEO of Salinas Valley Health. “This is why we teamed up with the Monterey County Health Department to host additional flu clinics this season. “We hope people will take advantage of these opportunities to get vaccinated.”

In addition to the flu vaccine, limited doses of the Pneumonia and Tdap vaccines will also be made available to the public for free. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends people over the age of 65 get a Pneumonia vaccine. Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs which can make people very sick. The CDC recommends a single dose of Tdap vaccine for people ages 11 and older who have not previously received it. The Tdap vaccine helps protect adolescents and adults against three diseases-tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis commonly known as whooping cough. The CDC is not recommending the use of the FluMist for the upcoming flu season.

The first community flu clinic in the month of December will take place Saturday, December 2^nd between 11am and 2pm. The walk-up clinic will be located in the Family Resource Center of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Academy at 925 North Sanborn Street in Salinas. The second flu clinic will take place Saturday, December 16^th between 11am and 2pm at Northridge Mall near the center court. The Northridge Mall is located at 796 Northridge Mall, Salinas. There is free parking at both locations.

The free flu clinics will provide traditional shots as the most effective vaccine. The CDC reports fewer than half of Americans get an annual flu immunization, even though the agency reports on average, the flu kills about 24,000 people each year in the United States.

Registered nurses from Salinas Valley Health will be administrating the free vaccines on a first come, first serve basis and quantities are limited.