FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE: November 16, 2009
CONTACT:
Suozzi Announces Nassau County
Department of Health to Partner With North Shore-LIJ and Nassau University
Medical Center
to Offer
H1N1 Flu Vaccine Free of Cost
Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi announced today
that Nassau County Department of Health has partnered with the North Shore-LIJ
Health System and Nassau
University Medical
Center to create H1N1
Vaccination Point of Dispensing Clinics (POD).
The goal of these Vaccination PODs is to create sustainable
vaccination sites over a 16-week period and begin vaccinating
residents in the priority groups
recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to receive the
2009 H1N1 influenza. Over the
next few weeks, Nassau County Department of Health expects to receive
additional shipments of vaccine and will broaden these vaccination sites with
North Shore-LIJ and Nassau
University Medical
Center.
The following
PODs have been scheduled:
Tuesday, November 17 - Nassau University Medical Center’s Auditorium, 2201 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow, 6 pm – 10 pm. No appointment needed.
Wednesday, November 18 - Nassau University
Medical Center’s
A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility’s Auditorium, 875 Jerusalem Avenue, Uniondale,
6 pm – 10 pm. No appointment needed.
Sunday, November 22 - North Shore-LIJ at Clinton Martin Park,
1650 Marcus Avenue, New Hyde Park, 9 am – 1 pm. No appointment needed.
The priority
groups recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to receive
the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine include:
- Pregnant women because they are at higher risk of
complications and can potentially provide protection to infants who cannot
be vaccinated;
- Household contacts and caregivers for
children younger than 6 months of age because younger infants are at higher risk
of influenza-related complications and cannot be vaccinated. Vaccination
of those in close contact with infants younger than 6 months old might
help protect infants by “cocooning” them from the virus;
- Healthcare and emergency medical services
personnel
because infections among healthcare workers have been reported and this
can be a potential source of infection for vulnerable patients. Also,
increased absenteeism in this population could reduce healthcare system
capacity;
- All people from 6 months through 24 years of
age
- Children from 6 months through 18 years of
age because
cases of 2009 H1N1 influenza have been seen in children who are in close
contact with each other in school and day care settings, which increases
the likelihood of disease spread, and
- Young adults 19 through 24 years of age because many cases of 2009 H1N1
influenza have been seen in these healthy young adults and they often
live, work, and study in close proximity, and they are a frequently
mobile population; and,
- Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have
health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications
from influenza.
Residents who would like additional information on
vaccination locations and are in one of the priority groups may call the Nassau
County Department of Health H1N1 Call
Center, Monday through Friday, 9 am – 4 pm at 1.888.684.4271 or visit
the Health Department website at http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/Health/index.html