"Due to a large turnout at two previous flu clinics lawmakers felt it important to continue making the flu shot accessible to residents in our districts. The number of flu cases continues to rise in New York, and we want to emphasize to people that it's not too late to still get the flu shot," said Sen. Carlucci.
Hudson River Health Care on Tuesday brought its mobile flu van to the Martin Luther King Center in Spring Valley for the first of the two clinics. Between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. onboard medical professionals administered free flu shots to adults.
"We are so pleased to be an important resource in Rockland County, in partnership with our state elected officials, to combat the serious flu epidemic this year," said Anne Kauffman Nolon, MPH, CEO and President of Hudson River Health Care (HRHCare). "This year, the number of patients coming in with flu symptoms has almost doubled, to nearly 700 cases across our network. Fortunately, we've been able to deliver 1200 vaccinations since the onset of the flu season this year in Rockland alone. But there is far more work to be done. We hope that our elected officials will preserve and expand resources to support this work and other vital public health programs."
Governor Andrew Cuomo has declared a Public Health Emergency for all of New York State, noting that increased access and convenience for those seeking the flu vaccine is critical as the number of reported cases continues to rise.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, across the nation more than 80 child deaths have been blamed on the flu. Healthcare professionals are urging parents to have their children vaccinated, despite it being late in the flu season.
“This flu season has been particularly intense, starting earlier and infecting more people than usual. The young and the old are particularly vulnerable. The number of flu-related pediatric deaths numbers at least 84 to date across the nation. Getting the flu shot is an important way to help protect yourselves as well as your loved ones and others in the community against this potentially deadly illness,” said Gregory A. Spencer MD, FACP, Chief Medical Officer & Chief Medical Information Officer of Crystal Run Healthcare.
Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee said, “As Chair of the Assembly Committee on Children & Families and a member of the Assembly Health Committee, I want to remind the Rockland community that getting the flu shot even late in this severe flu season is essential in keeping our children, families, and older adults healthy, and curbing the spread of this potentially life-threatening virus. I want to thank Hudson River Health Care and Crystal Run Healthcare for joining us in our effort to increase access to the flu shot by providing it free of charge.”
“This week’s two free flu shot clinics are a great opportunity for residents to protect themselves and their families against what has been one of the worst flu seasons in recent years. The flu season is not over and I encourage all residents to get vaccinated,” said Assemblyman Kenneth Zebrowski.
On Thursday, February 22, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Crystal Run Healthcare West Nyack located at 2 Centerock Rd in West Nyack will hold a second emergency flu clinic, offering flu shots for children ages 6 months and older, as well as adults.
The flu clinics are free and open to the public. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Senator Carlucci’s office at (845) 623-3627, Assemblywoman Jaffee’s office at (845) 624-4601, or Assemblyman Zebrowski’s office at (845) 634-9791.
