WJHS News - H1N1 Vaccination Clinic at John Jay High School

[Ellen Mead]

Dutchess County
Department of
Health
News
Release
Date: November 30, 2009
For Further Information
Contact:Michael C. Caldwell, MD, MPH,
Commissioner of Health at 845.486.3432

Dutchess County to Host H1N1 Vaccination Clinic Poughkeepsie . . .
The Dutchess County Department of Health will hold a free H1N1
vaccination clinic on
Saturday, December 5th at John Jay High School from 10am to 4pm by
appointment only in the town of East Fishkill. Vaccinations will be
available to individuals in the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention’s (CDC) recommended priority groups. Appointments can be
made by going online to the county website, www.dutchessny.gov, and
click on the “What to do about the Flu” button. Residents who do not
have access to the Internet can contact the H1N1 Flu Vaccination
Registrar at (845) 486-2226 Monday through Thursday from 9am to 5pm
and Friday 9am to4pm. Registration will close for this clinic at 4pm
on Friday, December 4th or sooner if all available appointments are
filled.

“Getting vaccinated is one of the most important steps individuals can
take to protect themselves,” said Dutchess County Commissioner of
Health Michael C. Caldwell, MD, MPH. “2009 H1N1 flu vaccine has become
more readily available in the past few weeks, with even more vaccine
to become available in the next month. Eventually everyone will be
able to get the vaccination. This Saturday’s clinic is for those
residents in the CDC priority groups who have not yet been able to get
their H1N1 vaccination from their doctor.”

Dutchess County residents who are in one or more of the following CDC-
recommended priority groups are eligible for the H1N1 vaccine at this
FREE clinic:
• Pregnant women
• Persons aged 6 months to 24 years of age
• Persons over age 24 who live with or provide care for infants less
than 6 months of age
• Health-care and emergency medical personnel
• Persons aged 25 to 64 years who have medical conditions that put
them at higher risk for
influenza–related complications, such as: chronic lung (e.g., asthma),
heart (except high blood pressure), kidney, liver, blood, or metabolic
disorders (e.g., diabetes); nerve and muscle system disorders that
affect breathing or that can increase risk for choking (e.g., spinal
cord injuries,seizures); immune-suppressed conditions (from
medications or HIV); or long-term aspirin therapy.

Dutchess County Department of Health
387 Main Street, Poughkeepsie NY 12601 •
(845) 486-3400 • Fax (845) 486-3447 • TTY (845) 486-3417
Michael C. Caldwell, MD, MPH
Commissioner of Health
William R. Steinhaus
County Executive

Individuals with a severe allergy to eggs and/or latex or who have had
Guillain-Barre
Syndrome cannot be vaccinated. Also, individuals with acute febrile
illness (fever) cannot be
vaccinated.

Dr. Caldwell reminds all residents to take everyday steps that can
help prevent the spread of
germs that cause respiratory illnesses like the flu including:
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue or the crook of your elbow, not your
hands.
Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use an alcohol-based hand
sanitizer if you’re not near a sink.
• Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth. Flu spreads
that way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

Stay home when you are sick, and do not return to school or work until
you have been fever free without medication for at least 24 hours.

The Dutchess County Department of Health will announce additional 2009
H1N1 vaccination
clinics in December pending availability of the vaccine.