Schipske Calls On Council to Act Now Before Flu Hits City

Registered Nurse-Candidate Calls On Long Beach Council to Act
Now Before Flu Hits City
Says Flu Shot Clinics Should Not Be Stopped on November 17

November 16, 2005 -- Fifth District Council Candidate and Registered Nurse Practitioner, Gerrie Schipske, today called upon the Long Beach City Council to immediately direct the City’s Health Department to develop a detailed strategy on how the city will respond if the Asian bird flu hits California.

“Federal and international health officials are growing increasingly concerned that the Asian bird flu, called the H5N1 strain, may trigger an outbreak of a ‘super-flu’ that could hit California first, especially cities near the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach,” notes Schipske, who served on the City’s Board of Health for 8 years. “Our local health department and our local medical community will be the first responders when this happens and we need to make certain that we have a strategy and plan in place for dealing with this potential disaster.”

Schipske suggests that the City Council call a public meeting to discuss how the public health department, local hospitals and doctors and the Red Cross can work together in the event of a massive infection. “It is extremely important that the Long Beach Unified School District which teaches more than 95,000 children also be included in this discussion and that the health department provide educational materials so that residents can learn the facts about the flu and flu vaccines.”

Schipske also urges the City not to stop its ‘flu shot clinics’ on November 17 which is the last day being scheduled for 2005. “Health officials know that while October or November is the best time to get vaccinated, getting vaccinated in December or even later can still be beneficial,” explains Schipske. “We need to make certain right now that our health department has access to adequate flu vaccine and that our most vulnerable – children, elderly and the chronically ill – receive flu shots.”