news release

 

ANDREW J. SPANO, Westchester County Executive

JOSHUA LIPSMAN, M.D., M.P.H., Commissioner of Health

 SUSAN TOLCHIN, Director of Communications

 

 

CONTACT:     MARY LANDRIGAN                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                (914) 813-5000 (After Hours)

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                  November 8, 2004

 

HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO RESUME COMMUNITY FLU CLINICS

County Receiving Additional Doses Through the National Reallocation Process

 

The Westchester County Department of Health announced today that it will resume its community flu clinics beginning November 9th.  At this time, the clinics will only accommodate residents who had appointments scheduled for the previously suspended clinics. 

Health Department flu clinics scheduled for October 25th and beyond had been suspended due to the uncertainty surrounding the nation’s supply of influenza vaccine.  Westchester County residents who had scheduled appointments at these clinics will be contacted by the community site hosting the clinic to inform them of the new clinic date and time.  Should additional appointments become available at any of these clinics, this information will be made available through the Health Department’s 24-hour Flu Information Line at 813-5609 and the Health Department’s website, www.westchestergov.health.

For those with Medicare Part B or Aetna US Healthcare Medicare coverage, there is no charge for the flu vaccine.  For others, the cost of the flu vaccine is $15.  The pneumococcal vaccine, used to combat a type of serious pneumonia in older adults, is also available to eligible residents at the Health Department flu clinics at a cost of $20 per shot.   

The Health Department will also be offering small quantities of vaccine to Westchester hospitals to serve the needs of high-risk patients.  The Health Department estimates that of the 5,300 doses of flu vaccine that have now become available, approximately 3,300 doses will be allocated to its community flu clinics and 1,500 doses to county hospitals on a pro-rata basis.  The Health Department will reserve the remaining 500 doses to be used in the event of an influenza outbreak. 

MORE

 

P.2 Flu Clinics Resume

Residents who have not yet been able to secure flu vaccine are asked to be patient as additional supplies of vaccine may be delivered to Westchester County during the flu season.

The Health Department continues to advise residents of the behavioral practices helpful in preventing the spread of flu.  These practices can be summarized in “Four C’s”:

1.      Contact: Avoid close contact with people who are sick. If you are sick, keep your distance from

others to prevent them from getting sick. Equally important is avoiding contact with your eyes, nose and mouth since the virus spreads by entering the mucous membranes in these areas.

2.      Contain: If you are sick, stay home from work, school and public areas. By doing so, you will help to prevent others from getting sick.

3.      Cover: Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough to protect others from getting sick. Since you may be contagious even before you realize you are sick, it is important to make this habit routine.

4.      Clean: Clean your hands in hot soapy water often. Hand washing is one of the most effective, yet overlooked ways of preventing the spread of illness.

All the steps are simple and effective, but hand washing is of utmost importance. The Westchester

County Department of Health spread the word about the effectiveness of hand washing last summer through its W.A.S.H. Up Westchester Campaign. “In an age where we are constantly making advances in technology and new treatments, we have to remember the basics in infection control…wash your hands!” Dr. Lipsman said.

The correct way to wash your hands is as follows:

1) First wet your hands and apply liquid or clean bar soap. Keep the bar soap on a rack that allows it to drain.

2) Next rub your hands vigorously together and scrub all surfaces.

3) Continue for 20 seconds. Tell kids to wash as long as it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice. It is soap combined with the scrubbing action that helps dislodge and remove germs.

4) Rinse well and dry your hands.

For updated information on flu clinics, call the Westchester County Department of Health’s Public Health Information Line at (914) 813-5609 or visit www.westchestergov.com/health. 

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