Boro Pres Markowitz and SUNY Downstate Offer FREE Flu Shots; 11/2

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz in conjunction with SUNY Downstate Medical Center is offering FREE Flu Shots.

WHEN: Wednesday, November 2, 2011
11:00AM- 2:00PM
WHERE: Brooklyn Borough Hall, Grand Rotunda
209 Joralemon Street
Brooklyn, NY 11209

You must schedule an appointment- please do so at (718) 802-3831 or email iguerrero@brooklynbp.nyc.gov.

FREE Seasonal Flu Shot at Brooklyn Plaza Medical Center

The Brooklyn Plaza Medical Center is administering FREE seasonal flu shots ONE DAY ONLY on Saturday, January 15, 2011.

Vaccination is the best way to protect against the flu. It is especially important for people most at-risk of serious complications from the flu and those who live or care for them.


WHEN: Saturday, January 15, 2011 from 9:00am - 3:00pm

WHERE: Brooklyn Plaza Medical Center, Inc. - 650 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217

No appointment is necessary.

ATTENTION: Rep. Clarke Hosts H1N1 Tele-Town Hall Meeting; 11/19

Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke
Presents...

A Tele-Town Hall Meeting on:
THE H1N1 VIRUS: PART TWO – “HOW IS NEW YORK CITY ADDRESSING THE NATIONAL SHORTAGE OF THE H1N1 VACCINE?”

Date: Thursday November 19, 2009
Time: 6:00p.m. to 7p.m. EST

Call In Number (877) 229-8493 Pin: 13319

Special Guest- Dr. Aletha Maybank the Assitant Commissioner of New York City's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, joins Representative Clarke to discuss how people can better access the H1N1 vaccine.

For more information please contact: 718-287-1142

Update: H1N1 Temporary Vaccination Clinics

The administration has implemented a comprehensive plan to address influenza (specifically H1N1) this flu season, including early vaccination for school-aged children, establishing influenza clinics, and drug store vaccinations.

To further the goal of preparing all City residents for the flu season, every weekend from November 14th through December 13th, the City’s Health Department will be offering free H1N1 vaccines at temporary clinics located in schools throughout the city. Although these clinics were originally designed for middle and high school students, vaccines will be now available for anyone in the following groups:

-Pregnant women.
-Anyone 4 to 24 years of age. (Note: Children younger than 4 are not eligible to be vaccinated
at these clinics.)
-Persons 25 to 64 years of age who have underlying health conditions that increases risk of severe illness or complications. Such conditions include asthma, diabetes, chronic heart and lung conditions, kidney failure, or a weakened immune system.
-Anyone who lives with or cares for children less than 6 months old.

The vaccination clinics will be open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There are limits on the number of people that the clinics can accommodate, so there may be lines.

The temporary vaccination sites in Brooklyn are located at:

Sheepshead Bay H.S. (K495)
Location: 3000 Avenue X
Dates of Operation:
Saturday, November 14, 11234
9:00am-6:00pm-
Sunday, November 15,
9:00am-5:00pm

P.S. 196 (K196)
Location: 207 Bushwick Avenue
Dates of Operation: Saturday, November 14,
9:00am-6:00pm-
Sunday, November 15,
9:00am-5:00pm

J.H.S. 234 Arthur W. (K234)
Location: 1875 East 17th Cunningham Street
Dates of Operation: Saturday, November 21,
9:00am-6:00pm-
Sunday, November 22,
9:00am-5:00pm

George Wingate Educational Campus (K470)
Location: 600 Kingston Avenue
Dates of Operation: Saturday, December 5,
9:00am-6:00pm-
Sunday, December 6,
9:00am-5:00pm

P.S. 186 Dr. Irving Gladstone (K186)
Location: 7601 19th Avenue
Dates of Operation: Saturday, December 12,
9:00am-6:00pm-
Sunday, December 13,
9:00am-5:00pm

Please remember: Vaccination is the best way to protect children and adults from the flu and prevent community-wide transmission.

ATTENTION: FLU & H1N1 INFO- FLU/VACCINATION LOCATIONS, FLU SHOTS FOR STUDENTS

Following the announcement that the administration is offering free flu shots to students to help prevent the spread of H1N1 this fall, and Fort Greene's brush with the swine flu, we are happy to share the following with parents of the 35th District--

The City is emphasizing preventative measures in order to keep influenza out of schools. Firstly, all children are expected to be properly vaccinated by their medical provider, or at a flu vaccination clinic. Additionally, some drug stores are offering flu services (including influenza and H1N1 vaccinations) to individuals without regular doctors.

Children should be kept home if ill. The City is monitoring public schools for sudden increases in influenza-like illness (ILI). If a school nurse sees 5 or more cases of students exhibiting ILI in one day, the school will send a letter to parents and guardians stressing the need to keep sick children home. If a school nurse reports ILI in 4% (a minimum of 15 students) of the school’s students on a given day, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will conduct an on-site assessment of the school and work with the school to strengthen its flu prevention efforts.

As stated, the City is providing the H1N1 vaccine at no cost to public and non-public school students. Elementary school students have received H1N1 information packets with vaccination consent forms that parents and guardians must return to have their children vaccinated. No child will be vaccinated without parental consent.

The vaccination program in elementary schools will take place over three phases: phase one will begin on October 28th in school buildings with enrollments of less than 400 students; phase two starts on November 4th in school buildings with enrollments of more than 600 students; and phase three begins on November 9th in the remaining elementary schools. Non-public schools that choose to participate will also be scheduled to receive the vaccine during this period.

Below are the elementary schools participating in the vaccination program:

Phase I-
P.S. 046 Edward C. Blum
P.S. 020 Clinton Hill
P.S. 287 Bailey K. Ashford
P.S. 316 Elijah Stroud
P.S. 157 Benjamin Franklin

Phase II
P.S. 221 Toussaint L'Ouverture

Phase III
P.S. 167 The Parkway
P.S. 161 The Crown
P.S. 011 Purvis J. Behan
P.S. 022
P.S. 375 Jackie Robinson School
P.S. 067 Charles A. Dorsey
COMMUNITY ROOTS CHARTER SCHOOL
P.S. 009 Teunis G. Bergen
P.S. 241 Emma L. Johnston

ATTENTION: Greater Brooklyn Coalition Sponsors Info Session on H1N1 Flu.

The Greater Brooklyn Health Coalition is sponsoring an informational event on seasonal and H1N1 influenza on behalf of the Brooklyn District Public Health Office of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC-DOHMH).--

Influenza Education & Training Event for Community Residents

WHEN: October 6th
6:00 PM- 8:00 PM

WHAT: Learn the latest about seasonal influenza and H1N1 ‘Swine Flu’.

*Learn what the City is doing and what you can do to prevent the spread of influenza.
*Learn how you can spread the word about influenza.

The NYC-DOH District Public Health Office, The U.S. Department of Health & Human Service's Office of Minority Health, and The Borough of Brooklyn Ecumenical Advisory Group [(BBEAG) a consortium of faith-based institutions convened by the NYC-DOHMH] invites community leaders and residents to attend an Influenza Education & Training Event:

WHERE: Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Plaza
Community Room—Lower Level
1368 Fulton Street
Brooklyn, NY 11216

Our previous posts on H1N1 can be found here.
~

To Reserve your seat, contact:
Evelyn Ortiz— eortiz@health.nyc.gov

MAYOR BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES FREE FLU SHOTS AND H1N1 VACCINE TO STUDENTS

As the school year sets in motion, a major concern of many students and parents is the infectious H1N1 influenza better known as, “swine flu”.

H1N1 influenza is a respiratory (lung) infection. It causes a fever, cough, and/or a sore throat that can last a week or more. Those at higher risk are people aged six months to eighteen, seniors, pregnant women, and people with asthma, diabetes or other conditions affecting the heart, lungs, blood, liver or kidneys.

As a way to keep schools open and prevent the contraction or spread of the seasonal flu and the H1N1 influenza, Mayor Bloomberg, City Officials, and the NYC Department of Health will be offering free vaccinations to all elementary school students. The vaccine for seasonal influenza is now being distributed and federal health officials predict that the separate vaccine to protect against the novel H1N1 virus will be available by mid-to-late October at NYC Department of Health Immunization clinics, some community health centers, and at designated Health and Hospitals Corporation flu centers. The NYC Department of Health is also developing alternate and convenient vaccination sites around the city. Those not at risk is discouraged to get vaccination.

Some ways to protect yourself and others against the H1N1 influenza is to make sure to cover your cough with the inside of your elbow, wash your hands often, don’t get too close to people who are sick, and if you feel sick (fever of 100 degrees or higher plus a cough or sore throat) stay home or seek medical treatment.

For up-to-date information about seasonal flu, H1N1, and where to get a free or low-cost flu vaccine, you can visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/general_info.htm, or the NYC Department of Health's website here.

You can read more about what the NYC Department of Education is doing to keep H1N1 out of schools here.

Fort Greene's MS 113 Closes Following Student Sicknesses

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 21, 2009

Fort Greene's MS 113 Closes Following Student Sicknesses

Department of Education and Department of Health close Fort Greene’s MS 113 following student sicknesses

(Brooklyn, NY)—MS 113- The Ronald Edmonds Learning Center in Fort Greene, Brooklyn was closed today after 18 students were sent home with flu-like symptoms and temperatures of up to 100.4 degrees; an additional 145 students were absent. After communicating with Principal Khalek Kirkland, the Department of Education in conjunction with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has decided to close the middle school until Wednesday, May 27, 2009. Students will return following the Memorial Day holiday.

The measures are precautionary, and fall in line with the Department of Health’s recently-established criteria for suggesting the closure of schools—which include factors such as whether closing a school could reduce the spread of infection, spikes in absenteeism, and the existence of high temperatures and other flu-like symptoms among students and staff.

Council Member Letitia James states, “I am working with the Department of Health and the Department of Education to ensure that MS 113 is properly sanitized as soon as possible. I urge all in the district to take careful measures against sickness as outlined by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. I am confident that all agencies will be able to coordinate with MS113, and that the school can soon resume their normal schedule.”

Currently, no one affiliated with MS 113 has been diagnosed with H1N1 flu. An updated list of school closings can be found at http://schools.nyc.gov/default.htm.

Contact: Aja Worthy-Davis (212) 788-7081


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We weren't a minute too soon with this post, apparently. Again, if you have flu-like symptoms accompanied by an abnormally-high temperature, please seek medical assistance as soon as possible. We encourage all residents to adhere to personal sanitary measures.

teamtish

Briefing Update: What You Need To Know About H1N1 ("Swine" Flu)

We wanted to make you aware that the New York City Council recently held a briefing to discuss the H1N1 Flu Outbreak (also known as "Swine Flu")

As of earlier this week:
* 3 schools in Queens, New York had closed, in addition to the 10 closed previously.
* 1 school in Brooklyn, New York had closed last week.
- These schools are all being thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, and are expected to reopen. So far, there has only been one death in New York, that of a Queens assistant principal

On the closing of schools:
* When deciding whether to close a school, a number of factors are looked at-
-Absentee rates
-Amount of students going to see the nurse, showing flu-like symptoms
-Size of school
-Number of children presenting at local hospitals showing flu-like symptoms

FYI about the "swine flu" (and how to keep safe):
* The method of transmission is the same as seasonal flu, so similar precautions should be taken (i.e. cover mouth/nose when coughing and sneezing, practice good personal hygiene).
* The H1N1 strain of flu seems to be very new, meaning that the public has not had a chance to develop an immunity yet (as some have done to seasonal flu).
* As with seasonal flu, the young, sickly, and elderly are at most risk.
* Information for the public will be passed on through 311, City department/government statements and press releases, and letters to schools and school officials.
* There have been no recommendations as yet to close summer camps, as it is hoped that the H1N1 flu rates will drop over the summer months, as is normally the case with strains of flu.
* A child should only see the doctor if as well as flu symptoms they also have a fever (1040F or above) and/or breathing difficulties.

If you are a looking for more information and updates on H1N1 flu, please see the Department for Health and Mental Hygiene website here.