Free Flu Vaccinations Provided for Fire-Afflicted San Diego Residents

April 4, 2008

(SAN DIEGO, November 1, 2007) – A coalition of medical companies recently responded to the wildfires which have devastated Southern California. On Sunday, October 28, Passport Health, the largest private provider of vaccines in the United States, in conjunction with CSL Biotherapies and Global Pharmaceutical Sourcing (GPS), donated over 1,700 vaccinations to victims and volunteers. Influenza shots were available throughout the day at three of San Diego County’s Local Assistant Centers.

AFLURIA®, an influenza vaccine developed by CSL, was administered by the nursing staff from Passport Health’s San Diego and Los Angeles affiliates. With 136 locations, Passport Health is the only national network of clinics that carries all commercially-licensed vaccines. Passport Health was able to respond due to past results with catastrophic events such as Hurricane Katrina and the post-9/11 anthrax attacks.

“Immuno-responses have been weakened due to the abundance of carcinogens in the air because of smoke. This increases the risk of contracting influenza,” states Dr. Laura Radke, M.D., medical director of Corporate Health Services for ProHealth.

The influenza virus can have a major impact on families and businesses. More than 200,000 Americans are hospitalized and 36,000 die each year. Influenza costs employers $10 billion in paid sick leave. Young children, the elderly, and the immuno-compromised are at greatest risk. The CDC urges those at high risk to get vaccinated, including health care workers, pregnant women, and children ages 6 months and older. Also at risk are those individuals who have upper-respiratory infections or chronic disease.

Plans are currently under way to continue to assist San Diego County representatives in the vaccination process. In the next two weeks, Passport Health, the American Lung Association, and Community Health Improvement Partners will once again team with CSL and GPS to aid local residents. Flu clinic sites throughout the county will have over 3000 flu vaccines available free of charge. San Diego residents can learn more about these clinics by calling Passport Health’s local office at (619) 293-3963.

Anyone at risk for contracting influenza who has not yet received a flu shot for the 2007/2008 flu season should call Passport Health’s toll free number 1-888-499-PASS or view their website www.passporthealthusa.com for further information on personal or corporate vaccinations and locations.

Who:

Passport Health is the largest network of travel medicine clinics in the U.S. offering its clients the same first class service at any of its 150 offices nationwide which reach from coast to coast from New York to San Francisco. In addition to offering walk-in flu vaccinations at its offices, Passport Health contracts with and performs mass flu immunizations for businesses and government offices with as few as 20 and as many as 5,000 employees. Passport Health sees 50,000 clients a month nationally. Services include a full range of travel and general immunizations, on-site flu clinics, emergency assistance and evacuation insurance, security briefings, specialty supplies, travel counseling and travel intelligence. Passport Health has been involved in national health projects that included a contract with the CDC to administer the anthrax vaccine for post office and government employees.

Where:

Passport Health is in 60 major metropolitan areas in 33 states. Its 150 locations are conveniently located and offer free parking and little or no wait time.

For more information go to or call 1-888-499-PASS(7277))

About Passport Health::

Founded in 1994, Passport Health is headquartered in Baltimore, MD and is the largest doctor-recommended provider of vaccines in the nation with 150 locations in 33 states. We serve your community with convenient locations in most major metropolitan areas where the public can access professional travel health nurses that offer travel health medicine and travel health products. Passport Health’s services include adult and adolescent immunizations for international travel, back-to-school, immigration & naturalization, military readiness, disaster relief, and bioterrorism response. We specialize in hard to find vaccines, like Japanese Encephalitis and Yellow Fever. Event vaccine services for employers and schools include onsite clinics for Flu, Meningitis, and more. Passport Health has provided anthrax vaccinations and smallpox vaccination training and has worked with the US military, Post Office, and Federal employees and currently runs a 24/7 immunization call center for the Department of Defense.