By Cynthia Gibson
Contributing Writer
CULVER CITY — The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is offering free flu shots at a drive-through clinic in the parking lot of the Julian Dixon Library from noon to 3 p.m. Oct. 21. No appointment or insurance is required.
The Julian Dixon Library is one of 11 L.A. county libraries that have partnered with the department to provide public immunizations from Oct. 14 through Nov. 9.
L.A. County Library Director Skye Patrick views the free flu shot clinic as a resource to keep library visitors healthy and leveling the playing field in health care.
“Libraries, I believe, are the great equalizers. We are the voice of social change and social justice,” Patrick said. “Working with Public Health to make flu immunization clinics available to our customers again this year allows us to provide them with a valuable resource to keep them healthy.”
County Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer emphasized the importance of receiving the flu vaccine in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
“This year, flu and COVID-19 will be circulating at the same time in our communities throughout L.A. County, making it more important than ever that as many people as possible get their flu immunization,” she said.
Flu season occurs in the fall and winter, peaking between December and February, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Each year 11% of Americans become ill with the flu, leading to thousands of deaths. The Department of Public Health recommends flu immunization for everyone six months of age and older, including healthy adults.
People 65 years and older, pregnant women, children younger than 5 years and people with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease or HIV, are at a higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications.
This is the seventh consecutive year for the partnership between the Department of Public Health and county libraries. In 2019, over 2,500 free flu immunizations were given at county libraries.
For a complete list of free county library flu shot clinics, visit LACountyLirary.org/FluShot.
Cynthia Gibson is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers who covers Culver City and West Los Angeles. She can be reached at ckgcommunications@gmail.com.
