Free flu shots in Santa Ana - The Orange County Register

Flu season has officially arrived in Orange County with the first confirmed case, the county's Health Care Agency announced this week.

Public health officials are urging vaccination for everyone 6 months and older, particularly infants and young children, pregnant women, older adults and those with chronic medical conditions.

FLU SHOT: Seasonal flu shot clinics offering free shots to people in high-risk groups are under way in Orange County.

MARK RIGHTMIRE, MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE REGISTER

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The agency is offering free vaccination for those without insurance Thursdays 8-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-4 p.m. at 1725 W. 17th St. in Santa Ana. The clinic is closed today.

In other agency news, West Nile Virus cases among Orange County residents have climbed to 42, according to a tally kept by the county. No one has died.

The illness is spread by mosquito bites and can cause serious illness in a few people. Roughly 80 percent of those infected will show no symptoms.

Mild symptoms do not generally require medical treatment and include fever, headache, nausea and sometimes a rash.

Last year, there were 10 infections. Local cases peaked in 2008 with 79 infections.

To learn more, visit ochealthinfo.com/epi/wnv.

FDA OKs NEW FORM

OF FLU VACCINE

The Food and Drug Administration says it has approved the first seasonal flu vaccine made using animal cell technology, rather than the egg method that has been standard for the past half century.

The FDA approved Novartis' Flucelvax to prevent flu in people 18 and older.

The new method has been promoted by U.S. health officials because it is faster than egg-based production and could speed up manufacturing in the event of a pandemic.

In the older method, virus samples are injected into specialized chicken eggs and incubated. The egg fluids are later harvested, concentrated and purified into the vaccine.

With cell technology, small amounts of virus are put in fermenting tanks with nutrients and cells derived from mammals. The virus is then inactivated, purified and put into vaccine vials.

CHOC OFFERS DONATION OPTION

Children's Hospital of Orange County is part of a so-called crowdfunded gift catalog where people can purchase a toy or wheelchair for the hospital.

The nonprofit GiveMiracles.org allows donors to select a gift (a pediatric wheelchair costs $970, while a box of 360 preemie diapers costs $170) and then receive updates on how their gift is being used.

The website also allows donors to raise small donations from friends and family via Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

CHOC's goal is to raise $40,000.

HOAG REMODELS HEART INSTITUTE

Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach has opened its remodeled heart and vascular institute, which includes a new lobby and an operating room that allows a diseased aortic heart valve to be replaced without open-heart surgery.

The 34,650-square-foot facility consolidates cardiac services ranging from operating rooms to catheterization labs.

Last year, Newport Beach couple Bob and Marjie Bennett donated $2 million for the hybrid operating room with imaging technology that gives doctors a 3D view inside the body.

The project will be complete in January with the addition of meeting space and a healing garden.

KOMEN HONORS VOLUNTEERS

Last week, Orange County's Susan G. Komen for the Cure affiliate honored volunteers for donating 37,130 hours of support during the past year.

Volunteers helped with everything from the September Race for the Cure to working in the office.

"For more than two decades, this determined affiliate has made a tremendous impact in the fight against breast cancer and could not have done it without the steadfast support and generosity of spirit from the volunteers who help activate our mission to find a cure," Executive Director Lisa Wolter said.

Among those honored: Nina Rattner of Los Alamitos, who has volunteered continuously since the affiliate started more than 20 years ago. She has helped to chair the survivor tribute ceremony at each Race for the Cure since 2004.

STRESS RELIEF COURSES

In time for the holidays, the Susan Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine at UC Irvine is offering stress reduction courses.

A one-day mindfulness workshop takes place 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Dec. 1 and costs $75. A three-week course, titled "Coming Home for the Holidays," is 6:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 3, 10 and 17. It costs $145.

Dr. Don Maurer will teach both courses on mindful stress reduction as a way to reduce physical and emotional pain while boosting coping skills.

Information: sscim .uci.edu or 949-824-5763.

The Associated Press

contributed to this report.

Contact the writer: cperkes@ocregister.com 714-796-3686

Source: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/county-378463-cure-heart.html

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