September 28, 2006

2006 Flu Immunization and Information

Nassau County Department of Senior Citizen Affairs, Nassau University Medical Center and Nassau County Department of Health will be providing influenza immunization clinics for seniors age 60 and over and to their spouses beginning October 20, 2006 and ending December 18, 2006. Many locations will also offer the pneumococcal vaccine to persons 65 and over. There is no out-of-pocket expense for these imunizations. For scheduling information, please call 516-227-8967 for referral to a location in your community.

Nassau County Senior Citizen Flu Immunization Program - 2006 Master Listing

New York State's listing of flu clinic sites, including supermarket and drug store locations, available to all residents.
(A fee may be charged at these sites.)

Influenza vaccine is recommended for:

• All persons aged 50 years and older
• Residents of long term care facilities
• Persons aged 5-49 years with medical conditions that put them at risk for complications of the flu
• Children aged 6-59 months
• Pregnant women
• Health care workers
• Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers to all the above groups
• Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children under 6 months of age
• In addition, everyone else who wants to reduce their risk of getting influenza

Nassau County Department of Health recommends that everyone should take the following steps to protect themselves, their family and others from respiratory illness:

• Clean your hands. Washing your hands after coughing and sneezing and washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.
• Cover your cough or sneeze. Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing may prevent those around you from getting sick.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. If you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
• Stay home when you are sick, if possible. Staying home from work, school and errands when sick will help prevent others from catching your illness.