Who says public health can’t join the 21st Century?  A statewide California Department of Public Health (CDPH) campaign is doing just that—using text messaging and Facebook to help Californians get H1N1 flu vaccine.

CDPH and the Office of Public Affairs launched a new “Stop H1N1” flu vaccine campaign to coincide with January’s National Influenza Vaccine Week (NIVW). The campaign promotes texting to help Californians locate the nearest flu shot clinic.  Billboards and public transit advertising are spreading the word that up-to-date flu shot information is just a text message away. 

“We’re reaching out to an age group that typically doesn’t get vaccinated,” said Tiffany Sutter, Immunization Branch, Information and Education Section Chief.  “We are increasing vaccine awareness through texting and social networking.”

The campaign’s kick-off generated articles in the San Francisco Examiner and Sacramento Bee as well as TV and radio broadcasts in Sacramento, the Bay Area, and Fresno. As a result, nearly 1,000 text messages were sent in the first three days, with hundreds more still coming in. To participate, consumers text “30644” in their cell phones and type in “noflu” (plus spacebar) and their zip code. A few seconds later, they receive a text with the nearest H1N1 flu vaccine provider, including address, phone number, and clinic hours.

Another new effort, CDPH’s “Stop H1N1CA. Find ur Vaccine?” Facebook page is helping the campaign “go viral.” Facebook enthusiasts can add it to a personal page and share the H1N1 locator application with friends and family. Facebook users click on the “KEEP” button to display the application on their profile page and can have visitors enter a zip code to receive the nearest H1N1 vaccine provider location. 

In time for Valentine’s Day, there is a new billboard to “make a date to vaccinate.” Using new media and messages, this campaign alerts Californians that flu vaccine is available and still beneficial. The texting campaign will run through March.

Flu Facts

1. H1N1 Flu activity decreased after December. However, H1N1 flu remains widespread throughout parts of the state.  By the end of January, over 8,000 people had been hospitalized and 470 Californians had died.

2. By the end of January, the State H1N1 Provider Call Center had responded to nearly 17,000 calls from California health care providers, primarily for customer service help with vaccine ordering.