“Governor Paterson’s timely Executive Order on H1N1 clears the way for pharmacists to vaccinate children as well as adults. It will also let a larger number of health care workers administer vaccines, and strengthen our health department’s ability to track the use of vaccine supplies citywide. I have asked the City’s Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene, Dr. Thomas A. Farley, to make conforming changes in the New York City Health Code to let us implement these changes locally. This will include a technical declaration of an emergency, even though New York City has yet to see significant influenza activity this fall.

“Vaccination is the best weapon we have against the flu, but we understand that many New Yorkers still have questions about the H1N1 vaccine. I encourage any New Yorker who has questions about the influenza vaccines to call 311 or visit www.nyc.gov/flu.”