Flu season is here!
The best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated every year. Most flu activity occurs between October and May, peaking between December and February in the United States. The flu vaccine protects against the flu after two weeks, so it is best to get vaccinated early in fall, by the end of October.
With the COVID-19 pandemic still ongoing, flu vaccines remain vital. Nationally, flu can cause between 9-35 million cases and an average of 200,000 hospitalizations each year, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. The CDC estimates that anywhere from 5-20% of the population can get the flu each year. In Los Angeles County with more than 10 million residents, that means anywhere from a half a million to 2 million cases of flu can happen each season.
Why the flu vaccine is important:
- It’s the best way to prevent the flu.
- It’s safe and effective.
- It protects you against the harmful effects of flu.
- You can protect others who are too young or unable to get vaccinated.
- It can help keep people out of the hospital, which will prevent overwhelming the healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Who should get the flu vaccine:
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Who should not get the flu vaccine:
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Children younger than 6 months of age
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People with severe, life-threatening allergies to flu vaccine or any ingredient in the vaccine. This might include gelatin, antibiotics or other ingredients. See Special Considerations Regarding Egg Allergy for more information about egg allergies and the flu vaccine.
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Anyone can get the flu, even healthy children and adults. High-risk populations include:
- Children younger than five years old
- Pregnant women
- Persons 65 years of age and older
- People with chronic medical conditions (e.g. asthma, diabetes, HIV, lung or heart disease)
Those in the above high-risk populations should make getting a flu shot a priority as they are at risk for more severe flu infections and negative health outcomes from getting the flu.
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Where to get the flu vaccine:
- Your healthcare provider
- Your local pharmacy
- Call 2-1-1 for a location near you
- Visit a Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Clinic
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BCHD Board Votes to Certify Final EIR
for Proposed Healthy Living Campus Master Plan
The Beach Cities Health District (BCHD) Board of Directors voted to certify the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the District’s Healthy Living Campus Master Plan, verifying the document complies with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
The vote was taken during the Board Meeting Wed., Sept. 8 and was 5-0 in favor of certification, coming after two and a half hours of presentations, public comments and deliberations. More than 300 public comments and responses were included in the 1,778-page Final EIR.
Next steps for the project include a review of the proposed plan and the six alternatives that were analyzed in the EIR. This process will include continued community outreach and trade-off discussions, public surveys, committee meetings and BCHD’s Strategic Planning meeting in October.
“Completing this very comprehensive EIR process is an important milestone for this project, and we appreciate the public’s active involvement. The proposed campus concept is a product of the community’s ideas gathered through the extensive community engagement process the BCHD Board insisted upon,” says BCHD CEO Tom Bakaly. “Our Beach Cities community has put a tremendous amount of time, energy and research into this report, which will help guide much of the work ahead of us.”
The proposed plan and alternatives are a direct reflection of community input, with design and planning documents revised twice since the public project discourse began in 2017. Public input resulted in the addition of open space, proposed structures were redesigned and shifted away from neighbors, and construction time was drastically reduced.
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FAQ: What is the difference between the third dose and the booster shot?
Additional doses are not boosters. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health notes the difference between third doses and booster shots is more than just language. Third doses are meant to elicit an antibody response where there was an inadequate antibody response before, while booster shots are meant to increase antibody levels that have waned after a robust increase in the months after vaccination.
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Additional Dose
Recommended for Immunocompromised
- An additional mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose is recommended for moderately to severely immunocompromised people after an initial 2-dose mRNA vaccine series.
- An additional dose is administered when the immune response following a primary vaccine series is likely to be insufficient.
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An additional mRNA COVID-19 dose is recommended only for patients with moderate to severe immune compromise due to a medical condition or receipt of immunosuppressive medications or treatments.
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Booster Dose
Not Yet Authorized or Recommended
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According to the CDC, vaccine recipients may be eligible for a COVID-19 booster shot beginning in the fall, with individuals being eligible starting 8 months after they received their second dose of an mRNA vaccine (either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna).
- This is subject to authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and recommendation by CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
- FDA is conducting an independent evaluation to determine the safety and effectiveness of a booster dose of the mRNA vaccines. ACIP will decide whether to issue a booster dose recommendation based on a thorough review of the evidence.
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Percent (%) of population 16+ vaccinated with at least 1 dose
As of September 9, 2021
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Update on Variants in Los Angeles County
As of September 10, the Delta variant now accounts for 100% of the COVID-19 strains seen among samples sequenced in the Los Angeles County area. This variant is more infectious and more efficiently transmitted between people compared with earlier COVID-19 strains. While emerging data affirms that fully vaccinated people are well protected from severe infections with Delta variants, it now is clear that fully vaccinated people can become infected, and if infected with Delta, can infect others.
As a result of re-analyzing many samples with an updated version of the genetic library used to identify variants, a lab that performs much of the variant sequencing reclassified many older specimens as Mu or Lambda variants, resulting in an increase in the total number of these variants reported linked to County residents. As of September 10, 232 cases linked to Mu variants and 28 cases linked to Lambda variants have been identified. Most of those specimens were collected earlier in the summer.
Mu was first identified in Colombia in January 2021 and has since been reported in 39 countries. The World Health Organization labelled variant Mu, lineage B.1.621, as a variant of interest on August 30, 2021. The Mu variant is found to have key mutations linked to greater transmissibility and the potential to evade antibodies. More studies are needed to determine whether Mu variant is more contagious, more deadly or more resistant to vaccine and treatments than other COVID-19 strains.
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Path Out of the Pandemic: President Biden’s COVID-19 Action Plan
President Biden is implementing a six-pronged, comprehensive national strategy that employs the same science-based approach that was used to successfully combat previous variants of COVID-19 earlier this year. This plan will ensure that we are using every available tool to combat COVID-19 and save even more lives in the months ahead, while also keeping schools open and safe, and protecting our economy from lockdowns and damage. Learn more here.
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Los Angeles County Health Officer Order on Youth Sports
The County continues to recommend weekly testing for unvaccinated participants in youth sports. The following applies to teams and sport activities based in Los Angeles County and relaxes some screening testing:
- Indoor Moderate or High Risk Sports for children of all ages, staff, coaches and volunteers. A weekly negative test result is required for all participants who are not fully vaccinated, including children who are playing, staff, coaches and volunteers; weekly school testing fulfills this obligation.
- Outdoor Moderate or High Risk Sports for youth 12 and older, staff, coaches and volunteers. A weekly negative test result is required for all participants 12 and older who are not fully vaccinated, including children who are playing, staff, coaches and volunteers; weekly school testing fulfills this obligation.
- No screening testing required for children under 12 playing Outdoor Sports; weekly school testing fulfills this recommendation.
- Fully vaccinated youth participating in outdoor sports are not required to test weekly unless there is a positive case among players, coaches and/or staff. If there is a positive case, all players, coaches, staff and volunteers (regardless of vaccination status) are required to have a weekly negative test result for two weeks from exposure to the case and must test negative prior to competitions.
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Virtual Families Connected Parent Chat
A free parent support group led by a licensed professional from the Thelma McMillen Center for Alcohol and Drug Treatment at Torrance Memorial Medical Center held in partnership with South Bay Families Connected. Open to all parents.
Tuesdays
10 – 11 a.m.
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Virtual BCHD Board of Directors Meeting
BCHD holds public board meetings at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of every month (except Aug. and Dec.).
Wednesday, September 22
6:30 p.m.
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Back to School Vaccine Clinic
OPEN TO ALL: Students ages 12+, school staff and families
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First/Second Dose Clinic: Thursday, Sept. 23, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Location: South Bay Adult School, 3401 Inglewood Ave., Redondo Beach, CA 90278
Please note, if you are receiving your first dose at this clinic, you will need to schedule your second dose at another location.
Only students who are currently 12 years or older are eligible and parent/guardian must be present for student to be vaccinated.
The following types of identification are accepted for proof of age:
- California ID card or REAL ID card
- Passport
- Birth certificate
- Any official document that includes name and date of birth, for example, school record
For more information, call Beach Cities Health District’s School Well-Being Line for Families at 310-374-3426, and press option 2. Hours are Monday – Thursday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Friday: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
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Virtual Mental Health & Happiness Series
Learn how to boost your well-being through evidence-based practices to build resilience, feel more connected and be happier. The series focuses on the building blocks to help create a healthier and happier you. Presented by Beach Cities Health District in partnership with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at California State University, Dominguez Hills.
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Topics include:
Boost Empathy: Support connection and shift perspective
Tuesday, September 28 from 11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Reaffirm Purpose: Navigate transitions and focus on meaning
Tuesday, October 19 from 11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Maximize Gratitude: Express appreciation and savor kindness
Tuesday, November 9 from 11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
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Virtual Mindfulness Drop-In
Take 30 minutes to downshift and practice mindfulness techniques. The guided session will be led by a trained Beach Cities Health District instructor. First Wednesday of every month.
Wednesday, October 6
4 – 4:30 p.m.
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Are you ready for an emergency?
National Preparedness Month is observed each September to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time. Prepare yourself and make a plan today and build your emergency supply kit. For more information and local resources, visit bchd.org/emergency-preparedness.
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Need Help?
If you or someone you know in the Beach Cities needs help with health-related information and referrals, please call our Assistance, Information & Referral line at 310-374-3426, ext. 256, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or visit us online at bchd.org/resources.
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