Health Briefly Sept. 22

Men's Reproductive Health Clinic set

Carson City Health and Human Services sets aside 4-6 p.m. on Monday afternoons for men's health appointments.

Call 887-2195 for your appointment.

Whooping cough epidemic in Calif.

In neighboring California, confirmed cases of whooping cough, or pertussis, is now four times that of last year.

Local health officials encourage boosters for any adult up to 64 years of age that is in close contact with an infant.

Whooping cough boosters for adults and vaccine for infants is available at Carson City Health and Human Services.

Vaccination day for community is Oct. 16

Oct. 16 is Community Flu Vaccination Day. Free flu vaccines for all!

However, the main objective of day is for Carson City Health and Human Services to practice responding in the event of a disaster.

By lining up for your injection, you play an important role in your community's preparedness.

How does this work? Health departments across the nation regularly conduct preparedness exercises, especially for times when mass amounts of dispensing are required. Emergency items to be dispensed could be vaccinations, medicine, water, masks or any number of things temporarily needed to maintain public health.

The health department practices dispensing capacity by providing free flu vaccinations to the community each October.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sets the dispense rate standard at 370 dispenses an hour. Partly owing to exceptional community turnout, Carson City Health and Human Services has exceeded that rate for the last three years. Its self-imposed standard is dispensing to our population of 54,000 within 48 hours, which calculates to approximately 1,200 dispenses per hour. This is done by running multiple concurrent venues.

In addition to the number of dispenses per hour, capabilities such as safety and communications are also tested.

Residents can select from three different locations for free vaccinations. No appointment is necessary.

9 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 16

Walk-In: Carson Senior Center, 911 Beverly Dr.

Drive-Through: Nevada National Guard, 2460 Fairview Dr.

Drive-Through: East Fork Fire Station 12, 3620 North Sunridge Dr.

Food distribution offered Friday

RSVP Carson City volunteers will distribute free USDA Commodity Foods from 9-11 a.m. Friday at the Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St.

This month's commodity foods include apple juice, tomato soup, cherry apple juice, baby lima beans, canned pork, canned pears, canned apple sauce, frozen pork patties, cheddar cheese soup, and peanut butter.

Any needy family in Carson City can be eligible by signing the Issuance Sheet at the community center, certifying that their household's annual income does not exceed 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. This is strictly on the honor system so please organizers ask that recipients be respectful of the privilege.

Income guidelines currently are $20,036 for a single and $26,955 for a couple. A picture ID/drivers license must be provided. Food may be picked up for the homebound or those unable to attend by bringing a signed note from them and their picture ID.

RSVP and the State Commodity Food Program order all food that is available; however, if the food runs out, it is because we could not obtain more. Persons declaring large families for commodities may be asked for proof of family members.

For more information, call the State of Nevada Food Distribution Program at 688-2828 or the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program at 687-4680, Ext. 0.