County Announces Free Flu Shots are Still Available

Many people associate winter with the flu and with all the snow melting with the recent sunny days, it’s hard to justify still getting the vaccine when spring seems to be just around the corner.

“Get your flu vaccine now – it’s the most important thing you can do to protect yourself and your family from the flu. It’s not too late to get vaccinated – the flu is here and flu season can last until April or May,” said Dr. Joan H. Facelle, Rockland County Commissioner of Health.

The Rockland County Department of Health is offering free flu vaccines to those 9 years old and up throughout March.

“Flu season goes on beyond the winter months—it typically peaks in January or February, but can last as late as April or May,” said Nellie Quinn, Nursing Supervisor for Clinics. “And if you are planning to travel during the winter and early spring, get your flu vaccine to avoid bringing back the flu as an unwanted souvenir.”

“In early fall, we first offered the flu vaccine to staff, then to the public,” said Quinn. “Typically in the first few weeks in the fall, we have a lot of people, 400 or 500, come to a flu vaccine clinic. We always have a physician present during our larger clinics, and always have emergency medication on hand at all of our flu vaccine clinics.”

• Those under 18 years old need to have a parent or guardian with them.
• Those that are pregnant, a vaccine is used that doesn’t have preservatives and some don’t have a latex stopper
• Vaccines are used accordingly depending on a person’s allergies

“Between Octorber and December 2010, we vaccinated over 1,900 people, and an additional 88 people in January 2011,” said Connie Maietta, Acting Director of Patient Services. “We’ll be offering these free flu vaccine clinics until the end of the season, probably the end of March. As long as the demand is there, we’ll do it.”

Here are a few additional good health habits from the Rockland County Department of Health:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Stay home when you are sick
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing
• Wash your hands often
• Avoid touching your eyes, noes or mouth
• Get plenty of sleep
• Be physically active
• Manage your stress
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Eat nutritious food

Here’s where and when to get the free flu vaccines:

• Every Monday in March from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
• (by appointment only, call 845-364-2520)
• Building A, Second Floor Robert L. Yeager Health Center 50 Sanatorium Road, Pomona, New York 10970

For more information about the flu and the flu vaccine visit www.rocklandgov.com/health and click on the flu icon.