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 (HEALTH PIO) (914) 813-5000 (After Hours)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 14, 2004

HEALTH DEPARTMENT DISTRIBUTES FLU VACCINE

No additional community flu clinics scheduled

The Westchester County Department of Health announced today that it is distributing approximately 18,000 doses of newly acquired flu vaccine to hospitals, neighborhood health centers, home care agencies, and adult and residential facilities. At this time, no additional community flu clinics are being scheduled through the Health Department.

Residents seeking flu vaccine should contact their primary care physicians or other medical providers in their community, as many are expected to have access to flu vaccine through this current distribution. Residents who are unable to secure flu vaccine at this time are asked to be patient as additional supplies may be delivered to Westchester County during the remainder of 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.

MORE

Page 2 Flu Vaccine Distribution

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.

Should additional community flu clinics be scheduled, 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.