Public Hospitals Remind New Yorkers to Get a Flu Shot

HHC to Vaccinate Thousands During National Influenza Immunization Week, November 27 – December 3, 2006

New York City – The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) is participating in National Influenza Immunization Week to remind and encourage New Yorkers to get their flu shots this season. HHC administered approximately 130,000 doses of the influenza vaccine last year and wants to immunize 160,000 New Yorkers this year.

"New York City's public hospitals are dedicated to protecting the most vulnerable New Yorkers against the highly contagious influenza virus,” said HHC President Alan D. Aviles. “We are committed to immunizing thousands of our patients and have ample vaccine doses on hand for all New Yorkers who want to protect themselves and their loved ones.”

An annual flu shot is recommended for the following groups:

• Persons at high risk for influenza-related complications and severe disease, including:
  
  • children aged 6-59 months;
    
  • pregnant women;
    
  • persons aged >50 years;
    
  • persons of any age with certain chronic medical conditions; and

• Persons who live with or care for persons at high risk, including:
  • household contacts who have frequent contact with persons at high risk and who can transmit influenza to those persons at high risk; and
  • health-care workers.

New Yorkers who are not vaccinated early should seek vaccination as soon as possible through-out the fall and winter months; influenza viruses can circulate all year round but they reach peak levels during late December through March.

Those without health insurance will receive the vaccine at no cost at various HHC locations throughout every borough in the city. Those patients who are at high-risk will have first priority. For more information about where to get a flu shot, call 311 or visit www.nyc.gov/hhc.

The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC), the largest municipal hospital and health care system in the country, is a $4.9 billion public benefit corporation that serves 1.3 million New Yorkers and nearly 400,000 who are uninsured. HHC provides medical, mental health and substance abuse services through its 11 acute care hospitals, four skilled nursing facilities, six large diagnostic and treatment centers and more than 80 community based clinics. For more information about HHC, visit www.nyc.gov/hhc.