Welcome

Welcome The Orange County Office on Aging serves as the lead advocate, planner and facilitator relative to all aging issues on behalf of all older persons in Orange County. Together with our partners, the Office on Aging provides a full range of older adult services which are listed throughout the website, including information and assistance on programs and services available for older adults and their caregivers.

The Office on Aging is committed to helping older adults experience the highest possible quality of life. Our pledge is to keep this site current and ever-evolving to reflect the needs of the community.

Latest News

October 2009

Seasonal Flu

Due to a delay in seasonal flu vaccination delivery, the Orange County Health Department at this time only has a limited supply available to the community sites that have offered flu clinics in the past. If you are eligible for a free seasonal flu shot, call your local senior center and ask if they have a flu clinic scheduled. Call the Office on Aging at 1-800-510-2020 if you need a senior center number. The Santa Ana 17th Street Public Health Clinic expects to start offering seasonal flu shots in mid-December.

Health Care Agency Seasonal Flu webpage

H1N1 Flu

Nasal spray H1N1 influenza vaccinations are available for healthy children 2 years to 9 years old, and healthy people younger than 49 years old who are care givers for children younger than 6 months of age. Children 2 to 9 years of age will need two doses of vaccine at least 28 days apart to develop sufficient immunity to the virus.

Children’s H1N1 Vaccination Clinics

The Health Care Agency continues to work with the California Department of Public Health to distribute vaccine in response to the 2009 H1N1 Flu. This is in coordination with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which has arranged for the production of an estimated 195 million doses of vaccine before the end of the year.

Vaccine is beginning to be distributed to local health department and to some providers in the community. Vaccine received by the Health Care Agency is being redirected to hospitals, specialty clinics and physicians that are able to reach the highest risk patients. This now includes making thimerasol (mercury preservative) free vaccine available to private Obstetricians in Orange County and through an appointment-only clinic at our Public Health clinic in Santa Ana for pregnant women.

Health Care Agency H1N1 Flu webpage

I’m so confused! Which flu shot do I get?
By: Erin Ulibarri, MPH

The emergence of a new flu strain this past Spring has many people wondering which flu vaccine they need to get. For most older adults, nothing has changed. People over 65 should still receive a seasonal flu shot just as in previous years. The new H1N1 vaccine (swine flu) will not be targeted to people over 65 years old.

You should get the seasonal flu vaccine as an older adult or if you in the following groups:

Over 50 years old
Those who have a chronic medical condition (especially heart disease, asthma, diabetes, or immune suppressing diseases)
Those who live in a nursing home or other long-term care facility
Those who have children/grandchildren (6 months – 5 years) at home
People who care for anyone with the above conditions
Healthcare workers

The above groups of people are the most vulnerable to seasonal flu-related complications. For people over 65 years, influenza is the 6th leading cause of death, so the flu is not something to take lightly.

Priority groups for the H1N1 vaccine have been identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as:

Pregnant women
People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
Persons between the ages of 6 months through 24 years of age
People from ages 25 through 64 years who are at higher risk for complications because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems

However, there are additional preventive measures you can take to further reduce your chance of getting sick from either the seasonal flu or H1N1 and spreading any respiratory illnesses to others:

Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze
Wash your hands often with soap and water
Try to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
Avoid close contact with those who are sick
If you get sick, stay home until you are better

The Office on Aging at 1-800-510-2020 maintains a list of community sites where the seasonal flu vaccine is being offered free to those who are in the vulnerable populations. Area pharmacies and grocery stores are also offering flu shots and will accept Medicare Part B and some health plans with a nominal fee. Contact your doctor’s office if you feel you are eligible for the H1N1 vaccine.

Resources

Flu.gov
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-H1N1 information
CA Department of Public Health