Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Wednesday, October 24, 2001
Release # 334-01

Contact: Lynn Rasic (646) 756-6241
  Sandra Mullin/Lauren Margulies (DOH) (212) 295-5335/5336; (877) 640-1347


MAYOR GIULIANI URGES ELDERLY AND AT-RISK NEW YORKERS
TO GET FLU AND PNEUMONIA SHOTS

New York City Flu Information Line and Website to Inform New Yorkers
Where to Get Flu Shots


Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, joined by New York City Health Commissioner Neal L. Cohen, M.D., Department for the Aging Commissioner Herbert W. Stupp, and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Visiting Nurse Service of New York, Carol Raphael, today encouraged all New Yorkers, especially those over the age of 50 and those with chronic medical conditions, to get flu vaccinations early this flu season.

"This is the time of year when New Yorkers, especially those over the age of 50, should get their flu shots," Mayor Giuliani said. "The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have announced that flu vaccine shipments may be delayed in certain parts of the country, however, there is of flu vaccine available at locations throughout New York City - including Health Department Clinics, senior centers, Health and Hospitals Corporation facilities, and other sites citywide.

"Individuals with questions about where to get the flu shot can contact the Health Department's toll-free flu information line at 1-866-FLU-LINE (866-358-5463), or they can visit the City's website at nyc.gov/health for vaccination locations and other relevant information," the Mayor continued.

Dr. Cohen said, "While most people who contract the flu recover fully, influenza and complications that often occur, such as pneumonia, rank among the leading causes of death in New York City ¾ particularly among persons aged 65 and older. Because we have seen lower vaccination rates in minority communities across New York City, it is also particularly important that our outreach messages reach these groups. In the year 2000, 2,268 New Yorkers died of influenza or pneumonia. The Health Department encourages all New Yorkers to consult their physicians before getting a flu shot."

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has noted there may be a delay in the delivery of some of this year's supply of the flu vaccine and therefore have asked that persons at lower risk for infection wait until November to get vaccinated. The Health Department, in partnership with the Department for the Aging and the Visiting Nurse Service of New York, is immunizing older New Yorkers at senior centers throughout the City from October through mid-December.

Commissioner Herbert W. Stupp said, "New York City's seniors are particularly vulnerable to the flu. It is important that seniors get the flu shot now, before the virus becomes widespread during the flu season. To make it easier for seniors to get vaccinated, the Department for the Aging has made the flu shot available at over two-thirds of our 340 senior centers and other sites throughout the City."

Carol Raphael, President and CEO of VSN said, "The Visiting Nurse Service of New York is pleased to work again with the New York City Health Department and senior seniors citywide to help vaccinate New Yorkers against influenza and pneumonia. By working together, we help protect those at greatest risk of developing potentially life-threatening complications from the flu."

Where to Get a Flu Shot

The Health Department, in cooperation with the Department for the Aging (DFTA) and the Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VSN), is offering free immunizations to New Yorkers at walk-in clinics and senior centers throughout the City through mid-December. The Health and Hospital Corporations (HHC) is currently offering free flu shots at their hospitals and Communicare clinic sites as well. For information on where to get a flu shot, New Yorkers can call the City's Flu Information Line (1-866-FLU-LINE), or visit the Health Department's website (nyc.gov/health).

The Health Department is also continuing its Don't Get the Flu - Get the Shot public education campaign started in 2000. Posters featuring the campaign will appear on buses and subways throughout the City, and a television spot is set to run on Time-Warner Cable. Additionally, the campaign will include a radio spot that will air on radio stations in multiple languages including English, Russian, Spanish, Korean, and Chinese.

Those Most at Risk

While the flu shot is recommended for all individuals aged 50 or older, those at highest risk for serious influenza infection include:

Persons at high risk for the flu are also generally at high risk for contracting pneumonia. Therefore, people at high risk for flu are advised to consider getting the pneumonia shot as well. New Yorkers can receive the pneumonia vaccine during their visit for the flu vaccine at City clinics and senior centers. The pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccine, unlike the flu shot, generally provides long-term protection, and does not need to be administered annually. It begins to protect against a wide variety of pneumococcal bacteria two to three weeks after it is administered.

For each year's flu season, a new flu shot is needed because flu viruses can rapidly change form as they circulate among the world's populations, sometimes making the previous year's vaccine obsolete. CDC identifies the forms of the flu virus most likely to be present in the United States each year. This year's flu vaccine targets the A/Moscow-like (H3N2), A/New Caledonia-like (H1N1) and B/Sichuan-like strains of influenza.

Children who have flu should not be given aspirin. Children who take aspirin when they have the flu or chicken pox can develop a severe illness, Reye Syndrome. Aspirin substitutes, like acetaminophen, may be given instead. Influenza generally causes fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, and muscle aches.

For more information about the flu, call the City's toll-free Flu Information Line at 1-866-FLU LINE (866-358-5463), or visit the Health Department's Web site at nyc.gov/health.


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