United Way provides flu shot information hotline

By Lara Moscrip, Bay City News Service

October 10, 2006

Bay Area residents looking for a flu shot this season can call United Way's free referral system for information on how much the shots cost and where they can be obtained.

Residents within San Francisco can dial 211 from any landline telephone, 24 hours a day, seven days a week to find the closest available flu shot.

Callers from Napa, Marin, San Mateo and Solano Counties, as well as San Francisco cell phone users, can reach the hotline by dialing (415) 808-HELP or 1-800-273-6222 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Information from the service is available in more than 150 languages, according to Maria Stokes of the United Way of the Bay Area.

The 211 line is part of United Way's HELPLINK, a comprehensive, regional information and referral system that connects people with local community services, according to the United Way.

HELPLINK provides information through its multilingual phone numbers, print directories and online searchable database.

The United Way launched the 211 phone service in March of this year.

To learn more about United Way's HELPLINK and 211, visit www.211bayarea.org.

Copyright © 2006 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.

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