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Several local hospitals are closing their doors to young visitors, joining medical facilities nationwide that have implemented similar policies in an effort to stem the spread of the H1N1, or swine flu, virus.

El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City, and Northern California Kaiser Permanente all recently announced they are restricting visits by youths, according to representatives. On Friday, Kaiser started barring visitors 14 years old and under and Sequoia imposed a similar policy for those under 16. El Camino will not allow visitors under 16 beginning Monday.

The hospitals are making exceptions on a case-by-case basis, including those where a family member may be dying, for example. Hospital representatives say it's a necessary step to protect patients and visitors.

"Children are at greater risk for complications of influenza and are more likely to represent a health risk to patients," Dr. Carol Kemper, El Camino medical director of infection control, said in a statement.

The hospitals are putting additional restrictions in place. According to a statement released by El Camino, visitors may be asked to wear masks if they are coughing, sneezing or have a runny nose.

Kaiser Permanente is prohibiting visitors with a fever higher than 100 degrees, a cough, sore throat or any other flu-like symptoms, Dr. Stephen Parodi, chief of infectious disease for Kaiser Permanente Northern California, said in a statement.

Sequoia is limiting visits to two people each and asks visitors to wash their hands before and after seeing patients, according to a letter sent to Sequoia patients and visitors.

Stanford Hospitals and Clinics along with Lucile Packard Children's Hospital began banning visitors under the age of 16 on Oct. 19.

Meanwhile, the Santa Clara County Public Health Department recently received a shipment of 26,000 dosages of the H1N1 vaccine, County Supervisor Liz Kniss announced Friday. Vaccine providers over the next week have been instructed to give priority to pregnant women, children 6 months to 2 years old, children 2 to 18 with medical conditions, people who live with or care for infants under the age of 6 months, and health care and emergency workers who care for anyone in the above groups.

The county will hold a public vaccination clinic on Nov. 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds for people at the highest risk of contracting the disease. The county health department is also scheduled to hold a community forum on swine flu on Nov. 12 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Mountain View Senior Center, 266 Escuela Ave.

Source: sofiaecho.com