The City of West Hollywood and the Men’s Health Foundation — in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and Capitol Drugs — will provide free meningitis vaccinations on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at the Capitol Drugs “Sample Saturday”sale.
The sale will take place at 8578 Santa Monica Blvd. Capitol Drugs will provide 30-minute validated parking at its adjacent lot.
Since March 2016, there has been an outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease (meningitis) throughout Los Angeles and Orange counties. Recent data shows gay and bisexual men are at higher risk. The L.A. County Department of Public Health recommends that gay and bisexual men get vaccinated.
Meningitis is caused by a type of bacterium called Neisseria meningitidis, which can be spread through direct contact with saliva, or by contact with air-born droplets expressed while coughing or sneezing. Kissing or sharing food, drinks, or tobacco products can spread the bacterium.
While meningococcal disease is rare, and most people with meningitis recover, serious medical problems, such as swelling in the brain and spinal cord, loss of a limb, deafness, brain damage, or even death, can occur. Symptoms are initially flu-like, and include high fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, confusion, sensitivity to light, and rash. Vaccination is the best defense against meningitis. For more information about meningitis, please visit the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health meningitis information website “Don’t Swap” at www.dontswap.com.
In addition, the L.A. County Department of Public Health will be partnering with the L.A. Public Library to provide a flu clinic at the West Hollywood Library on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Flu vaccinations will be available in the Community Meeting Room, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard, to people who do not have health insurance or who may have healthcare providers that do not offer flu vaccines.
Flu vaccinations are recommended for everyone six months of age and older, including healthy adults. People who are allergic to eggs or are feeling sick on the day of the flu clinic should first check with a doctor before getting vaccinated. This flu clinic date and time is subject to change — in order to confirm the date and time, please call (310) 652-5340.
For additional information about the meningitis and flu vaccination clinics, please call the City of West Hollywood’s Social Services Division at (323) 848-6510, or email wehocares@weho.org. For people who are deaf or hearing impaired, please call TTY (323) 848-6496.
