Flu Shots Free For Marina Del Rey Residents To Avert 'Twindemic'

MARINA DEL REY, CA — With flu season bumping up against the coronavirus outbreak, health officials are warning Los Angeles County residents about the threat of a "twindemic" overwhelming hospitals this fall and winter.

Officials are encouraging residents to get their flu shots now in hopes upon improving upon last year when only half of Americans got a flu shot. Free flu vaccines are being offered by the county and in the City of Los Angeles. Residents can find a flu vaccine through their doctor or at local pharmacies. To find the nearest flu shot clinic, search VaccineFinder.org.

Teams from USC's School of Pharmacy will administer free flu shots to people in Los Angeles beginning in October, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Wednesday.

Garcetti said he wanted people to remember what life was like in April when restrictions were tight on going anywhere in public.

"I want us to recall the horrors that we saw playing out on the news, the fears that we had, the scenes that we saw playing out around the world from Manhattan to Milan," Garcetti said.
Garcetti said the teams from USC would rotate around the city to places in need of flu shots.

Garcetti said although the city's numbers are going down, he said health officials are worried about a "twin-demic" between influenza and COVID- 19.

"Here in this city of angels, you have helped us prevent the worst- case scenario that we saw play out in other places," Garcetti said.

"But we are not immune from the nightmare that we saw, as we head into the fall, there are things we need to be conscious of right now to make sure that we do our part to protect one another."
Garcetti said at the USC flu shot sites, people will be asked to provide their medical insurance card, but no one will be turned down for not having one.

Los Angeles Residents can check for flu shot availability in the City of Los Angeles and information at coronavirus.lacity.org/flushot.

According to the city, each site will apply the necessary precautions to protect all staff and patients. These include strict masking requirements, additional disinfecting between vaccinations, physical distancing, and other measures to maintain health and safety. USC Pharmacy teams will also be screening to ensure you can safely receive the flu vaccine.

Flu vaccines are widely available across Los Angeles this fall, outside of City-run sites.

Residents can receive a flu vaccination at L.A. County Public Health Clinic Community Clinics.

The Los Angeles County Library will be hosting flu clinic events this season.

For more information on the flu, please visit the County of Los Angeles Public Health Flu Season website.

According to the Los Angeles County Public Health Department, it is especially important to get a flu vaccine if you:

• Are 6 months through 18 years of age
• Are 65 years of age and older
• Are pregnant or just had a baby
• Live in a nursing home or long-term care home
• Have a weakened immune system
• Have chronic medical condition (asthma, heart disease and stroke, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, cancer)
• Live with or care for someone who is more likely to have flu complications
• Are a healthcare provider.

ERIC HEINZ, City News Service contributed to this report.