▪  Child Examination (CHDP)
     ▪  Child Injury Prevention Services
         ▪ Child Safety Seats
         ▪ Helmets
     ▪  HIV/AIDS Testing
     ▪  Immunizations
     ▪  Tobacco Education and Prevention
     ▪  Tuberculosis

HIV Testing

Q: Where can I go to get a FREE HIV Test in San Benito County?

A: FREE Anonymous & Confidential HIV Testing can be obtained at:
    San Benito Health Foundation located at 351 Felice Drive, Hollister,
    California.

    Service is by walk-in or by appointment: call (831) 637-5306 ext.15.

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Immunizations

Q: When are the Public Health Services open for Immunizations?

A: Immunization Clinic is held every Tuesday.  Walk-Ins 8:30 AM -
    10:30 AM or By Appointment 2:30 PM - 4:45 PM

Q: Can my child receive his immunizations today if he has a cold?

A: Yes, as long as he does not have a high fever.

Q: My child taking antibiotics, is it okay to give him immunizations?
 
A: Yes, as long as the child is feeling better and does not have a high fever.

Q: Won’t it harm my child to receive so many vaccines at one
    time?
A: No, both the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and
    the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend simultaneous
    administration of all routine childhood vaccines when appropriate. There
    are two very good reasons: 1) To protect the child from diseases as
    early as possible and 2) For fewer visits and less upset for parent and
    child.

Q: So many children are immunized now, so what if I don’t have
    my child immunized?

A: There are several consequences to this decision of which you should be
    aware:

First, without immunizations, your child is at greater risk of getting one of the vaccine-preventable diseases. The diseases are still around the child whether immunized or not.

Second, without immunizations, your child can be a disease threat to other children. Your child could pass diseases to babies who are too young to be fully immunized, or to those children with illnesses that cause them to be less resistant (immune compromised).

Third, without immunizations, your child will be excluded from school (preschool or child care) until an outbreak is over. This can be a real hardship on the child and parent.

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Tobacco Education and Prevention

Q: Where can I go for help if I want to quit smoking?

A: Many hospitals, HMO’s, clinics and health departments offer cessation
    programs. FREE one-on-one telephone counseling provided by the
    California Smokers’ Helpline is available at 1-800-NO-BUTTS. For more
    information about stop smoking services contact the San Benito County
    Tobacco Education Program at 831-636-4011.

Q: My husband/wife’s doctor has ordered him/her to quit smoking
    but we have Medi-Cal. Will Medi-Cal cover the cost of the
    nicotine patch?

A: Yes. The patch and other nicotine replacements must be used in
    conjunction with a behavior modification program, and doctors who
    prescribe nicotine replacements will also require the patient to enter
    such a program. In this case Medi-Cal will cover the cost.

Q: How do I report smoking in a restaurant, bar or other
    workplace?

A: Please contact the San Benito County Tobacco Education Program at
    831-636-4011.

Q: How do I report a merchant that sells tobacco to minors?

A: To report tobacco sales to persons under the age of 18 years please call
    1-800-5-ASK-4-ID.

Q: Do nicotine replacement products, like the gum or patches,
    really work?

A: Yes and no.
    Yes: Nicotine replacement products help the individual slowly get off of
    nicotine. Each unit of the gum or patch has less and less nicotine until
    the person no longer craves it.
    No: All behaviors that make a person want to use tobacco need to be
    replaced. The individual needs to learn how to actually “live” without
    tobacco. The physical act of automatically reaching for tobacco in certain
    situations, such as upon waking up in the morning or on a morning work
    break, etc., needs to be broken. Triggers like smoking directly after
    eating or when feeling stress need to be changed to taking a brisk walk,
    drinking water, deep breathing – anything to keep a person from
    automatically turning to tobacco.

    Yes: Nicotine replacement used with behavior changes will increase the
    chances to quit tobacco.
    No: Nicotine replacement gum or patches alone won’t be a successful.

Q: Is chewing tobacco safe to use?

A: No! Tobacco is tobacco – no matter what form it’s in. IS THIS ON THE
    TOBACCO PAGE? WOULD IT BE BETTER TO LINK THERE? IF NOT HERE
    ARE MY CHANGES: Ads would have us believe that chewing tobacco is a
    safer than cigarettes. NOT TRUE: chewing tobacco is leaf tobacco in a
    pouch or plug, which users put in between their cheeks and gums for
    a long time. It contains chemicals that cause cancer, irritants, nuclear
    waste, and nicotine. It puts the same amount of nicotine in your blood.
    It causes the same addiction and the same withdrawal symptoms as
    cigarettes. Chewing tobacco causes higher blood pressure and faster
    heart rate. It also causes dental problems: cavities, inflammation of the
    gum, tooth discoloration (stains) and bad breath. The irritation in the
    mouth causes a thickening of the lining where users hold the tobacco.
    Chewing tobacco users have a higher risk of developing oral cancer in
    the mouth than cigarette smokers.

    The California Smokers’ Helpline provides cessation services for people
    who use chewing tobacco, dial 1-800-844-CHEW (1-800-844-2439).

Q: Will I hurt my baby is I smoke when I am pregnant?

A: YES! Women who smoke during pregnancy are 80% more likely to suffer
    a miscarriage and are dramatically more likely to have a stillborn baby
    or a low birth weight. The risk of delivering the baby before it is fully
    developed (pre-term) is increased by 30%. There is a greater chance of
    birth defects like cleft lip and/or cleft palate and mental retardation.

    The woman herself is more likely to have complications during her
    pregnancy.

    After baby is born, regular exposure to second-hand smoke may cause
    learning and behavioral problems, as well as. Babies whose mothers
    smoked during pregnancy are more likely to die from Sudden Infant
    Death Syndrome (SIDS), than those whose mothers did not smoke.
    Help is available for pregnant women who smoke and would like to quit.
    The California Smokers’ Helpline, in conjunction with the Partnership for
    Smoke-Free Families, have developed a cessation program designed
    specifically for pregnant women. To access these services, dial
    1-800-NO-BUTTS (1-800-662-8887). Any health care providers
    interested in the California Smokers’ Helpline protocol for pregnant
    women should ask for Judi Mills.

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