Mission Statement
The purpose of the Tuolumne County Public Health Department is to protect and preserve the health and well being of all citizens of Tuolumne County by preventing and controlling disease, injury and disability and by promoting healthy lifestyles.
From The Health Officer
The Tuolumne County Public Health Department was in effect born with the appointment of Dr. C. E. Congden as the first Tuolumne County Health Officer in 1898. The discoveries of Lister and Pasteur regarding the germ theory of disease were just gaining popularity. Since that time tremendous strides have been made in public health including the development of vaccines, the refinement of genetic profiling of infectious organisms, the development of the field of epidemiology and the explosive expansion of media in the information age. The Public Health Department welcomes you to this website and invites you to explore the information available to you here.
Access to H1N1 Flu Vaccine
NEWS RELEASE
Tuolumne County Health Department
Division of Public Health
DATE: December 1, 2009, 10:15 AM
From: S. Todd Stolp MD, Health Officer
Expanded Populations for Access to H1N1 Influenza Vaccine in Tuolumne County
In California, 2009 H1N1 influenza continues to be widespread. Most indicators suggest that illness throughout the state and in Tuolumne County may be leveling off, although levels of illness remain above the epidemic threshold for this time of year. Reported cases of new hospitalizations in California are lower this week compared to last week and remain lower than the peak of several weeks ago. Infants under one year of age continue to have the highest rate of hospitalization, and people with underlying health conditions, like treatment for cancer, immune deficiency, diabetes, severe obesity, asthma, pregnancy and significant heart disease are at greatest risk of suffering complications if they become infected.
As the availability of H1N1 influenza vaccine continues to improve, beginning November 30, 2009, the target population for H1N1 vaccination in Tuolumne County is expanded to include all Law Enforcement, First Responders and Teachers.
The Tuolumne County Health Department plans to make H1N1 influenza vaccinations available to all local residents who are interested in receiving H1N1 vaccinations on December 7, 2009, in accordance with standard vaccination policies. Eighty percent of the vaccine that has been received to date in Tuolumne County has already been administered to patients in the targeted populations.
Booster doses of the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine may be administered to persons under 10 years of age four weeks after the first dose of the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine. Additional doses of vaccine have been ordered and should be delivered to offices and health departments around the state over the next several weeks. Please note that the waiver allowing thimerosal-containing vaccine to be administered to infants and pregnant patients in the proper doses has been extended until September, 2010.
H1N1 influenza vaccinations will continue to be available at many local providers offices and at some local pharmacies. The H1N1 vaccine will also continue to be available at the Health Department Tuesday Immunization Clinics, on December 1 and December 8 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM to those who qualify. The Health Department can be reached at 533-7401.
People should continue to follow important steps to prevent the influenza virus from catching a ride from person to person: wash you hands frequently, cover your cough with your sleeve or a tissue, and stay home from work and school if you are ill with fever and respiratory illness.
Public Health Contact Info
Tuolumne County Health Department
20111 Cedar Road North
Sonora, CA 95370
209/533-7400 or 1-800/585-6606
Fax Number: 209/533-7406
Adult & Family Health
