Press Release

For Immediate Release
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NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT’S LATEST ‘PREP TALK’ PODCAST FOCUSES ON THE FLU VIRUS



Special Health Department guest discusses the flu virus and why it’s not too late to get the flu vaccine

#PrepTalkNYC



February 2, 2018 – It’s not too late to get your flu shot. That’s the message Dr. Demetre Daskalakis – Deputy Commissioner for the Division of Disease Control at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene – has for New Yorkers. Dr. Daskalakis is the feature guest on the latest episode of “Prep Talk”, the NYC Emergency Management Department’s podcast series. Listen as Dr. Daskalakis discusses the efficacy of the flu vaccine and debunks some of the myths about this season’s flu virus. Find out who’s most at risk to contract the flu, whether or not you can get sick from taking the flu shot, and learn some of the best methods of preventing the virus. For more information about where to get vaccinated, call 311, visit nyc.gov/flu to access the Flu Vaccine Locator, or text “flu” to 877877. Click to listen to episode 6 on SoundCloud and iTunes.

Profile:

Demetre Daskalakis, MD, MPH is the Deputy Commissioner for the Division of Disease Control at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Dr. Daskalakis directs the public health laboratory and all infectious disease control programs for New York City, including HIV, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections, vaccine-preventable diseases, and general communicable diseases. His division is one of the largest in the department, employing more than 1,100 staff, managing more than $350 million, and operating 14 clinical facilities.

Dr. Daskalakis received his medical education from NYU School of Medicine and completed his residency training in 2003 at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. He also completed Clinical Infectious Disease fellowships at the Brigham and Women’s | Massachusetts General Hospital combined program. He received his Masters of Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health. He has been a career-long physician activist in the area of HIV treatment and prevention among LGBT people.

NYC Emergency Management ‘Prep Talk’ Podcast Series:

Get ready for your emergency prep talk! NYC Emergency Management has launched “Prep Talk,” a new podcast series that engages listeners about emergency management topics. Listen as NYC Emergency Management hosts Omar Bourne and Allison Pennisi talk with guests who keep our city safe and prepared before, during and after emergencies. You can listen to “Prep Talk” on SoundCloud and iTunes, and subscribe now to stay up-to-date on the latest episodes.

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MEDIA CONTACT:    Nancy Silvestri/Omar Bourne (718) 422-4888

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