By Patric Hedlund
UPDATE: PINE MOUNTAIN (Tuesday, Nov. 3,12:45 p.m.)—A carpool option has been offered for those wishing to go for an H1N1 vaccination on Friday but who do not wish to drive. A parishioner of the El Camino Pines Lutheran Church says he will have the church van at the Pine Mountain Clubhouse at 1:15 p.m. on Friday for those who would like a ride to the church and back. The clinic is being held between 2-4 p.m. at El Camino Pines Church.
The Kern County Department of Health decided to shift locations for providing the H1N1 vaccination clinic to a more central location for the Mountain Communities. The church is located at 6700 Lakewood Drive, Lake of the Woods. The clinic was originally scheduled to take place at the PMC Clubhouse, but was shifted to the church, which can accommodate more people.
Dr. Claudia Jonah, chief medical officer of the Kern County Health Department, said receipt of additional vaccine doses allowed the county to expand : “We can now expand to include all people in the priority groups which include:
• Children 6 months to 24 years;
• Pregnant Women;
• Caregivers of children 6 months of age and younger;
• Persons with Underlying Health Conditions 24 years to 64 years; and
• Healthcare Workers.
PINE MOUNTAIN (Monday, Nov. 2, 4:15 p.m.)—El Camino Pines Lutheran Church (6700 Lakewood Drive, Lake of the Woods) is the new location for the vaccination distribution on Friday, Nov. 6 from 2-4 p.m. rather than Pine Mountain Club, according to the Kern County Health Department. Anne Weber of the Mountain Communities Family Resource Center called The Mountain Enterprise with this update at about 3:38 p.m.
PINE MOUNTAIN (Monday, Nov. 2, 1 p.m.)—Pine Mountain Club personnel are informing the public that H1N1 vaccinations are available between 2-4 p.m. at the Pine Mountain Clubhouse (just north of Mil Potrero Highway, across the street from the gas station).
"The Publc Health Department serves everybody," Kim Rodriguez, Public Information Officer, said of the Pine Mountain clinic.
"It was brought to our attention that there was information that it was restricted to a certain area. We are rectifying the situation now. We may move the location to a larger location that will accommodate more people. If that occurs, it would be a change in address, not a change in time. I’m sure there will be one planned for Frazier Park area as well," Rodriguez said. [Readers are urged to check back to this site by Wednesday morning to confirm the location of the event. Updates will be added as soon as they are available from the health department.]
The Kern County Department of Public Health says that they have received ample doses of the vaccine. Calls to the Bakersfield head office for Clinica Sierra Vista which operates the the Mountain Communities Health Clinic (in Lebec) to inquire about plans for a date for H1N1 vaccinations have not yet been returned. Staff members said they have no information about the date for a clinic at their facility.
Frazier Park residentTerri Bobbit, R.N. (who said she is an emergency room nurse in Los Angeles County) began calling last Friday to confirm that members of the general public would be able to attend the Pine Mountain clinic. She said she was first told it was "for members only." On Monday, The Mountain Enterprise was informed by PMC personnel that it is an open clinic available to all who fall within the priority groups. Bobbit’s calls to the Kern County Health Department prompted dialogue between that agency and PMCPOA about finding a larger facility to accommodate a larger-than-anticipated demand.
Dr. Jonah, chief medical officer of the Kern County Health Department said receipt of additional vaccine doses allowed the County to expand : “We can now expand to include all people in the priority groups which include:
• Children 6 months to 24 years;
• Pregnant Women;
• Caregivers of children 6 months of age and younger;
• Persons with Underlying Health Conditions 24 years to 64 years; and
• Healthcare Workers.
This is part of the October 30, 2009 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.
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