County Clinics Offer Free Hepatitis Shots

To help families in the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys comply with a state law taking effect Aug. 1, the Los Angeles County Health Services Department is offering free hepatitis B vaccinations to children entering preschool, kindergarten and child-care programs this fall.

Beginning next week, the shots will be officially added to a list of required vaccinations.

And while many parents may have waited until now to get their children the shots, county officials say they have been offering the free hepatitis B program for several years.

“You never wait for the last minute or it’s chaos, particularly in Los Angeles County, where you’re talking hundreds of thousands of people,” said Dr. Shirley Fannin, director of disease control for the county.

“Yes, we’re going to do a lot of catch-up, but it’s not going to cause us a lot of heartburn.”

The three-dose shots, first approved for use in the U.S. in 1982, are designed to ward off hepatitis B. The inflammatory virus damages the liver, usually causing jaundice, and can lead to cancer and cirrhosis of the liver.

Dates and times vary, but shots are being administered at the following county health centers:

* Antelope Valley, 335 E. Ave., Lancaster, (805) 723-4511.

* Burbank, 1101 W. Magnolia Blvd., (818) 557-3507.

* Glendale, 501 N. Glendale Ave., (818) 500-5795.

* Mid-Valley, 7515 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys, (818) 901-3077.

* North Hollywood, 5300 Tujunga Blvd., (818) 766-3981.

* Pacoima, 13300 Van Nuys Blvd., (818) 896-1903.

* San Fernando, 300 N. Brand Blvd., (818) 361-0982.

* Tujunga, 7747 Foothill Blvd., (818) 352-1417.