“We want to avoid the double whammy as much as possible.”
The double whammy in question, said County Supervisor Greg Cox at a Thursday morning news conference, is deadly serious.
“The chance that somebody could come down with both COVID 19 and influenza,” he said.
Health experts say the best way to prevent that is by getting a flu vaccine.
Thursday's news conference was to let everyone know the county is doing what it can to make getting the vaccine easy, and it’s free.
“In October and in early November, six clinics will be up and running with vaccines available for adults and children ages six months and up,” Cox said.
Though the vaccines are free, and no one will be turned away, the county says they’re primarily intended for people with no health insurance.
In a larger sense, the flu clinics are also intended to keep people out of the hospital.
“By reducing the overall impact of these respiratory illnesses, that the seasonal flu COVID-19 that it's also will lessen the burden on our health care system,” said county Health & Human Services director Nick Macchione.
The free flu clinics began Thursday, and they continue at various county public health centers through Nov. 3.
The clinics will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Here are the dates and locations:
- Oct. 22, North Central Public Health Center, 5055 Ruffin Road, San Diego;
- Oct 24, South Public Health Center, 690 Oxford St., Chula Vista;
- Oct. 27, North Coastal Public Health Center, 3609 Ocean Ranch Blvd, Oceanside;
- Oct. 28, Central Public Health Center VIP Trailer, 3177A Oceanview Blvd., San Diego;
- Oct. 29, East Public Health Center, 367 N. Magnolia Ave., El Cajon; and
- Nov. 3, North Inland Public Health Center, 640 W. Mission Ave., Suite 2, Escondido.
