Alliance Launches Annual Flu Campaign

Press release from the Central California Alliance for Health:

Sept. 19, 2022

Central California Alliance for Health (the Alliance) has launched its annual campaign to encourage Merced, Monterey and Santa Cruz County residents to get their flu shot. The Alliance is the regional Medi-Cal managed health plan for more than 400,000 residents in these three counties.

While vaccine effectiveness can vary, recent studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that flu vaccination reduces the risk of flu illness by as much as 60% among the overall population during seasons when most circulating flu viruses are well-matched to the produced flu vaccine.

“Getting the flu shot each year is the best way to protect yourself and others from getting sick from the flu,” said the Alliance’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Maurice Herbelin. “And it’s important to get the flu shot before peak flu season, so early fall is ideal timing to ensure adequate protection.”

Flu shots are safe and easy to get, and they are available at no cost for Alliance members. Adults can get a flu shot at a local pharmacy, a flu shot clinic or at their doctor’s office. Children and adolescents under age 19 need to get the flu shot at their doctor’s office. Alliance members with children ages 7 to 24 months who get their two flu shot doses between September and May will be entered into a monthly raffle for a $100 Target gift card.

This year, the Alliance’s campaign theme is “You don’t have time for the flu,” emphasizing that amidst busy lives and on the heels of the pandemic, it is often inconvenient to take time off for illnesses.

For more information, visit www.thealliance.health/flu.

This press release was produced by the Central California Alliance for Health. The views expressed here are the author's own.