Swine Flu Vaccinations Rise While Infections Remain Low
More than 11,000 people received swine flu vaccines at free clinics last weekend, city officials said, while overall infection rates remained relatively low.
The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has ordered more than a million doses of the vaccine. Most of them are going to in-school vaccinations, weekend clinics, hospitals and private pediatricians; some have been sent to large companies.
Because demand for the vaccine was lower than anticipated, the weekend clinics, originally intended for middle and high school students, were opened to a larger group of people considered high risk. That group included anyone ages 4 to 24, those 25 to 64 who have health conditions that make them more vulnerable, pregnant women, and anyone who lives with or cares for a newborn less than 6 months old.
The clinics — which vaccinated only 3,450 people on their first weekend earlier this month — will be on hiatus over the Thanksgiving weekend and then will resume for the first two weekends in December.
Some community clinics also have the vaccine. At the Cabs Health Center on Manhattan Avenue in Brooklyn on Monday morning, a woman answering the phone said the center was open to anyone who wanted a shot, until 11:30 a.m. About 10 people were waiting in line, she said. A list of weekend and local clinics is available at nyc.gov/flu.
But vaccination is far from complete in schools. Jessica Scaperotti, a spokeswoman for the health department, said the in-school vaccinations would probably continue through December.
Some school administrators said parents had become angry at the slow pace of vaccination.
“It has been delayed and delayed and delayed,” said Linda Kaufman, the associate head of school at St. Ann’s School in Brooklyn Heights. “There have been many frustrated parents who probably could have gotten the vaccine sooner from their pediatricians.”
In a letter to parents last week, Ms. Kaufman said, the health department promised that the vaccine would be available at the end of November.
Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that swine flu was subsiding in most of the country, and in New York, the numbers of people entering emergency rooms with flu-like symptoms have been far below those in the spring.
More than 11,000 people received swine flu vaccines at free clinics last weekend, city officials said, while overall infection rates remained relatively low.
The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has ordered more than a million doses of the vaccine. Most of them are going to in-school vaccinations, weekend clinics, hospitals and private pediatricians; some have been sent to large companies.
Because demand for the vaccine was lower than anticipated, the weekend clinics, originally intended for middle and high school students, were opened to a larger group of people considered high risk. That group included anyone ages 4 to 24, those 25 to 64 who have health conditions that make them more vulnerable, pregnant women, and anyone who lives with or cares for a newborn less than 6 months old.
The clinics — which vaccinated only 3,450 people on their first weekend earlier this month — will be on hiatus over the Thanksgiving weekend and then will resume for the first two weekends in December.
Some community clinics also have the vaccine. At the Cabs Health Center on Manhattan Avenue in Brooklyn on Monday morning, a woman answering the phone said the center was open to anyone who wanted a shot, until 11:30 a.m. About 10 people were waiting in line, she said. A list of weekend and local clinics is available at nyc.gov/flu.
But vaccination is far from complete in schools. Jessica Scaperotti, a spokeswoman for the health department, said the in-school vaccinations would probably continue through December.
Some school administrators said parents had become angry at the slow pace of vaccination.
“It has been delayed and delayed and delayed,” said Linda Kaufman, the associate head of school at St. Ann’s School in Brooklyn Heights. “There have been many frustrated parents who probably could have gotten the vaccine sooner from their pediatricians.”
In a letter to parents last week, Ms. Kaufman said, the health department promised that the vaccine would be available at the end of November.
Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that swine flu was subsiding in most of the country, and in New York, the numbers of people entering emergency rooms with flu-like symptoms have been far below those in the spring.
Source: New York Times
« Back to Health News
Related News
-
H1N1 to cause more deaths in northern winter - WHO Nov 23, 2009 @ 04:16 AM
GENEVA, Nov 5 (Reuters) - The H1N1 swine flu virus haspicked up steam in the northern hemisphere and is expected tocause more serious infections and deaths as cold weather setsin, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Thursday.
-
New group helps US monitor swine flu shot safety Nov 23, 2009 @ 04:16 AM
WASHINGTON — Independent health advisers begin monitoring safety of the swine flu vaccine on Monday, an extra step the government promised in this year's unprecedented program to watch for possible side effects.
-
Production of swine flu vaccine is way behind Nov 23, 2009 @ 04:16 AM
SWIFTWATER, Pa. — The federal government originally promised 120 million doses of swine flu vaccine by now. Only 13 million have come through.
-
Flu Officials' Message: Don't Blame Shots for All Ills Nov 23, 2009 @ 04:16 AM
As soon as swine flu vaccinations start next month, some people getting them will drop dead of heart attacks or strokes, some children will have seizures and some pregnant women will miscarry.
-
Swine Flu Officials' Message: Don't Blame Shots for All Ills Nov 23, 2009 @ 04:16 AM
As soon as swine flu vaccinations start next month, some people getting them will drop dead of heart attacks or strokes, some children will have seizures and some pregnant women will miscarry.
