Seniors getting outreach efforts for their flu shots after annual event is cancelled

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - With the annual Senior Expo cancelled, an outreach effort is bringing the influenza shots to over 400 seniors in and around Santa Barbara.

The expo at the Earl Warren Showgrounds is not allowed due to crowd gathering rules during the current pandemic.

The first of several flu shot clinics took place today at the San Vicente Mobile Home park.

The flu shots were provided by the Sansum clinic.

They were given to seniors who registered in advance.

"We are going to the sites and vaccinating folks either outside or in large community rooms so they can have social distancing  and going into their homes if people are home bound," said Jan Koegler with the Santa Barbara County Health Department.

After getting her shot, resident Soccorro Gomez said, "I normally go to CVS or Walgreens where I go with my Medicare card and I take a flu shot every year. This year, it was really easy because we got a notice from the county that it was going to be done here."

The process takes about five minutes.

13 sites have been identified for the clinics.

Health officials say they expect to have enough flu shots for these outreach efforts and the free locations next week.

The clinics are a coordinated effort with Sansum, Cottage Health, Hospice of Santa Barbara, Inc., Senior Program of Santa Barbara, Family Service Agency, VNA Health, Alexander Gardens, Santa Barbara County Medical Reserve Corps and Santa Barbara County Public Health.

For more information go to: Santa Barbara County Health flu shots