Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Friday, October 15, 1999

Release #400-99

Contact: Sunny Mindel/Brenda Pérez (212) 788-2958 Sandra Mullin, DOH (212) 788-5290


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

Receives Annual Flu Shot During His Weekly WABC Radio Show

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Department of Health (DOH) Commissioner Neal L. Cohen, M.D. today urged older New Yorkers and others at high risk of pneumonia and other complications from influenza to get flu immunizations and pneumonia shots as soon as possible. The Mayor received his annual flu shot during the broadcast of his weekly WABC Radio show Live from City Hall…with Rudy Giuliani.

"The cooler weather in fall marks the beginning of the flu and pneumonia season," Mayor Giuliani said. "Each year, thousands of New Yorkers suffer from the flu and, while most people recover after a few days, influenza and its complications can be very serious - and even deadly - for the elderly and other individuals with chronic health problems.

"I urge older New Yorkers and others at-risk to protect themselves from flu and pneumonia through a simple and proven ounce of prevention: immunizations. The time to get immunized is now, before the peak of flu season. Since the flu shot takes about one week to become fully effective, and the pneumonia shot takes somewhat longer, getting immunized early in the flu season is important," the Mayor concluded.

Persons at high risk from serious flu symptoms include: those age 65 or older; nursing home and chronic care facility residents; those with heart, circulatory, lung or kidney problems (including renal failure and asthma), people with diabetes, other metabolic diseases, cystic fibrosis or hemoglobin abnormalities (including "low blood"); people with lowered resistance to infection because of cancer, medical treatment, or immune system disease (including HIV); and children up to age 18 who are on long-term aspirin therapy.

New Yorkers should get immunizations from their doctor or at a clinic. Both Medicare and Medicaid pay for flu and pneumococcal (pneumonia) shots, as do many health insurance policies and plans. However, two programs are once again available this year to help immunize New Yorkers who are uninsured, or whose insurance does not cover the cost of these shots:

For each year's flu season, a new flu shot is needed because flu viruses rapidly change in form as they circulate among the world's population, making the previous year's vaccine obsolete. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies the most likely forms of the flu virus to be commonly seen in the United States each year. This year's influenza vaccine targets A Sydney H3N2, A Beijing H1N1, and B Beijing viruses.

Dr. Cohen said, "I want to remind all New Yorkers, especially senior citizens and others at risk, that the flu can be very serious. While most people who get sick with the flu recover fully, influenza, or the pneumonia that often follows it, together rank among the leading causes of death in New York City, particularly among persons aged 65 and older." In 1998, 2,680 New Yorkers died of influenza or pneumonia.

"Influenza commonly causes several days of high fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, and muscle aches. People with the flu should drink plenty of liquids, rest, and contact a doctor if they feel very ill or do not feel better after a few days. While we cannot get rid of flu or pneumonia, the effects of this illnesses can be reduced significantly through flu and pneumonia immunization of as many high-risk individuals as possible," Dr. Cohen concluded.

Dr. Cohen cautioned that certain people should consult with their physicians before getting a flu shot, including those who are allergic to eggs, women who might be pregnant, anyone with a high fever, and those who have had Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

Children who have flu should not be given aspirin. Aspirin substitutes, like acetaminophen, may be given instead. Children who take aspirin when they have the flu or chicken pox can develop Reye Syndrome, a severe illness.

Dr. Cohen also noted that, for the most part, persons at high risk from pneumonia comprise the same population as those at high risk from the flu. Therefore, people at high risk for flu should also consider getting the pneumonia shot. The pneumonia vaccine, unlike the flu shot, usually confers long-term protection, and does not need to be repeated annually. It begins to protect against a wide variety of pneumococcal bacteria two to three weeks after it is administered.

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