Time for your annual Flu vaccine. Nurse Elisabeth gives Mia-Alexia Martinez 14 her annual Flu vaccine.
“The Centers for Disease Control tells us that September and October are good times to get vaccinated against the flu,” says Dr. Albert Arteaga.
SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF. – Winter is flu season, but fall is the time to be prepared. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says, “For most people … September and October are generally good times to get vaccinated…[but] it’s important to know that vaccination after October can still provide protection during the peak of the flu season.”
For the 2023-2024 flu season, the CDC continues to recommend annual influenza vaccination for allpersons 6 months of age and older. Of particular concern are persons who are either very young, the elderly, or those who have chronic health conditions that put them at greater risk for complications from the flu—these people should not delay in getting their flu vaccines.
LaSalle Medical Direct Dr. Cheryl Emoto says, “Parents should take note of the fact that babies, those 6 months of age and older, need to get vaccinated as soon as they are old enough and children younger than 8 years old (including those babies) who are receiving their flu vaccine for the first time, will need a second dose four weeks after the first dose.”
LaSalle Medical Director Dr. Cheryl Emoto
Younger babies can be protected by parents and caregivers getting their flu vaccine, by so-called “herd immunity.” If parents do not get sick with the flu, the babies are also unlikely to get the flu.
For those over 65 years of age, there are higher-dose vaccines available that provide additional protection for the elderly. And for healthy individuals ages 2-49 years, there is a nasal spray available as a painless option. The nasal spray is just as effective as the injection.
The CDC notes a common misconception some people have is that a flu vaccine can give you flu, but that is not the case. Flu shots are made with “inactivated” (killed) viruses, or with only a single protein from the flu virus. The nasal spray vaccine contains live viruses that are attenuated (weakened) so that they will not cause illness,” says the CDC.
We should have flu vaccine available in the clinic by early September and we encourage everyone to get their flu vaccine.
LaSalle Medical Associates serves people covered by Medi-Cal, Medicare, and Covered California, as well as those covered by Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Molina, Care 1st, Health Net, Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), and Brand New Day. LaSalle staff have been trained to help people who come into a clinic without any insurance to get signed up for whatever coverage they qualify for.
For clinic locations and more information about LaSalle Medical Associates, call (909) 890-0407 or go online to lasallemedicalassociates.com.
—30—
B R I E F: 230 Words
It’s Time for Your Flu Shot
“The Centers for Disease Control tells us that September and October are good times to get vaccinated against the flu,” says Dr. Albert Arteaga.
SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF. – Winter is flu season, but fall is the time to be prepared. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says, “For most people … September and October are generally good times to get vaccinated…[but] it’s important to know that vaccination after October can still provide protection during the peak of the flu season.”
LaSalle Medical Direct Dr. Cheryl Emoto says, “Parents should take note of the fact that babies, those 6 months of age and older, need to get vaccinated as soon as they are old enough and children younger than 8 years old (including those babies) who are receiving their flu vaccine for the first time, will need a second dose four weeks after the first dose.”
LaSalle Medical Associates serves people covered by Medi-Cal, Medicare, and Covered California, as well as those covered by Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Molina, Care 1st, Health Net, Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), and Brand New Day. LaSalle staff have been trained to help people who come into a clinic without any insurance to get signed up for whatever coverage they qualify for.
For clinic locations and more information about LaSalle Medical Associates, call (909) 890-0407 or go online to lasallemedicalassociates.com.
LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. is one of the largest independent and Latino-owned healthcare companies in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The corporate office is in Redlands.
LaSalle is also an Independent Practice Association (IPA) of independently contracted doctors, hospitals, and clinics, delivering high-quality patient care to approximately 365,000 patients in Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Tulare counties.
Malaika Jacocks gets her annual checkup from Dr. Rodriguez at the LaSalle Mt. Vernon Clinic in San Bernardino. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends annual or bi-annual check-ups allow your doctor to monitor your diagnostic readings (heart rate, blood pressure, etc.) and, if necessary, prescribe medication and/or treatment to bring these readings up to healthy levels.
“Too many people stay away from a doctor’s office because they think if they feel okay, they don’t need to go in for an annual check-up. By the time they start to feel ill, they end up in the ER, and sometimes it’s just too late to save them,” said Dr. Albert Arteaga, CEO of LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc.
SAN BERNARDINO, CAIF. In addition to visiting a physician when an illness or injury occurs, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends annual or bi-annual check-ups that allow your doctor to monitor your diagnostic readings (heart rate, blood pressure, etc.) and, if necessary, prescribe medication and/or treatment to bring these readings up to healthy levels.
Only 25.2 percent, or one in four people, report having a recent routine check-up. Yet, routine cardiovascular exams alone save tens of thousands of adult lives each year, while vaccines save the lives of roughly 42,000 children on an annual basis, according to the CDC.
Annual or bi-annual preventive health screenings and primary care consultations have also been found to significantly increase life expectancy, particularly among the 30- to 49-year age group.
“Too many people stay away from a doctor’s office because they think if they feel okay, they don’t need to go in for things like an annual check-up,” said Dr. Albert Arteaga, CEO of LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. “And when illness strikes there is no established provider to treat and assist with the management of their needs.”
Dr. Arteaga lost a sister to breast cancer. “My sister never opened up to tell either me or her older sister—both of us doctors—that she had a lump on her breast. Later we learned that she kept making excuses about it, ‘I bumped myself’ or ‘It’s just a bruise’ and she basically ignored it for over six months.”
“There really is no reason for someone experiencing symptoms to put off seeing a doctor,” said Dr. Arteaga. Far more people today can obtain insurance thanks to Covered California, Medicaid and the like, making it much easier for them to get the care they need.
“Health care is no longer an out-of-reach luxury for those who couldn’t afford insurance but is now available for everyone. Our staff are trained to help uninsured people who come to our offices to apply for coverage,” Dr. Arteaga said.
In addition to providing acute care for people who may be coming down with something, Dr. Arteaga and his team make sure to reach out to those who are on longer-term care for a chronic condition like asthma or diabetes and get them to come in for regular checkups so that they do not suffer a relapse.
For more information about LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. call (855) 349-6019 or go online to LaSalleMedical.com.
LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. is one of the largest independent and Latino-owned healthcare companies in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The corporate office is in Redlands.
LaSalle operates six clinics employing more than 100 dedicated healthcare professionals, treating children, adults, and seniors in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. LaSalle’s patients are primarily served by Medi-Cal and Healthy Families. LaSalle also accepts Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Molina, Care 1st, Health Net, and Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) coverage.
LaSalle is also an Independent Practice Association (IPA) of independently contracted doctors, hospitals, and clinics, delivering high-quality patient care to approximately365,000 patients in Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, and Tulare counties.
Mia Alexia Martinez 14 gets her vaccination from Nurse Elisabeth. Get your flu and Covid Shot at the same time this season.
“Two little jabs now can save you from a world of trouble later on,” said Dr. Albert Arteaga, CEO of LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc.
REDLANDS, CALIF. Covid 19 and the flu remain dangerous infections. Medical authorities urge everyone six months and older to get their flu vaccinations now. At the same time, new Covid booster shots are also available, as well as shots for the latest of the Omicron variants and so getting both flu and Covid shots during one visit is the best course of action.
“No one really looks forward to getting a shot, but it really makes sense to get both of your shots at the same time so that you only need to make one visit to the doctor’s office, not two. Two little jabs now can save you from a world of trouble later on if you don’t get vaccinated,“ said Dr. Albert Arteaga, CEO of LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc.
Who should and who should not get a flu vaccine? According to the Centers for Disease Control, (CDC), everyone six months and older in the United States should get an influenza (flu) vaccine every season with rare exceptions. CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has made this “universal” recommendation since the 2010-2011 flu season.
During the 2018-2019 flu season, the CDC estimates that 35.5 million people contracted the disease and 34,200 died from it. “Flu kills and most people seem to know it does and so most people get their flu shots every fall,” said Dr. Arteaga.
The CDC also reported that Covid 19 is still averaging 54,186 new cases per day as of September 21, 2022, and to date, over 95.7 million cases have been reported since the pandemic started. Deaths are currently averaging 396 per month. Almost 80 percent of the U.S. population has had at least one Covid vaccination shot and 67.8 percent are fully vaccinated.
Dr. Albert Arteaga Suggest we all get our flu and Covid Shot at the same time this season.
“We have two very contagious and often deadly diseases,” said Dr. Arteaga. “Getting both vaccinations at the same time, if you have not yet gotten your Covid vaccine or booster shot, makes good common sense.”
LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc., clinics accept Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Molina, Care 1st, Health Net, and Inland Empire Health Plan coverage, as well as Medicare Medi-Cal and cash.
For more information call the office closest to you: Fontana (909) 823-4454; San Bernardino 17th Street (909) 887-6494; San Bernardino Mt. Vernon Ave. (909) 884-9091; Rialto (855) 349-6019; and Hesperia (760) 947-2161.
LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. is one of the largest, independent, and Latino-owned healthcare companies in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The corporate office is in Redlands.
LaSalle operates six clinics employing more than 100 dedicated healthcare professionals, treating children, adults and seniors in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. LaSalle’s patients are primarily served by Medi-Cal and Healthy Families. LaSalle also accepts Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Molina, Care 1st, Health Net, and Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) coverage.
LaSalle is also an Independent Practice Association (IPA) of independently contracted doctors, hospitals, and clinics, delivering high quality patient care to approximately 380,000 patients in Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, and Tulare counties.
