HispanicBusiness

In response to lethal cases of bacterial meningitis among men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) that has affected men in Los Angeles and New York, Impulse will host town hall meeting where citizens can directly pose questions to an infectious disease specialist as well as receive a free meningitis vaccination on one of AIDS Healthcare Foundation's mobile medical units.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation /p>

WHAT: Meningitis Town Hall hosted by Impulse

-- Q & A with infectious disease specialist Dr. Parveen Kaur regarding acute bacterial meningococcal meningitis

-- Free meningitis vaccination opportunities at site through mobile medical unit /p>

WHEN: TUESDAY, April 23rd 2013 -- 7:00pm Pacific Time /p>

WHERE: West Hollywood Park Community Hall
647 N. San Vicente Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069 /p>

WHO: Parveen Kaur, M.D., Physician, AHF Healthcare Centers /p>

B-ROLL: Specialist directly answering questions posed by community members; informational video shared by Impulse officers; community members receiving free meningitis vaccinations through mobile medical unit

In response to three deaths from bacterial meningitis in Southern California since December, Impulse, a group of socially active gay men seeking to promote safer sex in the community, will host a TOWN HALL MEETING in West Hollywood on Tuesday April 23 at 7 p.m. PT to allow Southern California community members to directly ask an infectious disease specialist - AHF Healthcare Center physician Dr. Parveen Kaur - any questions regarding acute bacterial meningococcal meningitis, an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal chord that has resulted in the deaths of three young men in Southern California since December. Attendees will also have the opportunity to receive a free meningitis vaccination through an on-site AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) mobile medical unit.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation has provided 3,357 free meningitis vaccinations in West Hollywood and Hollywood since April 15. The foundation will continue providing free meningitis vaccines this week at its AHF Hollywood Men's Wellness Center (1300 N. Vermont Ave, Suite 407, Los Angeles 90027) to anyone who thinks that they are at risk or have had exposure. The vaccine protocol involves one dose for HIV negative individuals, and one plus a booster at eight weeks for HIV positive people. PLEASE NOTE: WOMEN MAY ALSO BE VACCINATED AT THIS LOCATION, DESPITE THE NAME IMPLYING SERVICES TO MEN ONLY. This is the ONLY location for ongoing free meningitis vaccinations from AHF - vaccinations will no longer be performed at the West Hollywood and Hollywood AHF Pharmacies.

For more information about meningococcal meningitis, please visit impulsegrp.org, aidshealth.org, and freestdcheck.org.

AHF provides medical care and/or services to over 200,000 individuals in 28 countries worldwide in the U.S., Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, Eastern Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @AIDSHealthcare

Impulse was formed in February 2011 and consists of a core group of socially active young gay men who seek to promote healthier sexual lifestyles using modern social approaches. The group seeks to protect and give back to the community by promoting safe sex and reducing the risk of STDs and HIV/AIDS among active gay men in the greater West Hollywood and Hollywood area of Los Angeles. The first international branch of Impulse was established in Mexico City in February 2013. For more information, visit impulsegrp.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/impulsegroup and follow us on Twitter: @impulsegrp

Source: AIDS Healthcare Foundation