New York Gov. David Paterson has declared a state of emergency because of the rise in swine flu cases. The executive order means that far more health care professionals – including dentists – will be permitted to administer vaccines with only brief training. The order is needed to suspend provisions of state law. State officials say the [...]
The first phase of H1N1 immunizations in city schools got underway this morning. According to the Department of Education, 125 elementary schools across the city with enrollment of less than 400 students began giving vaccines to children during regular school hours. Parents were given the vaccination forms last week, but officials say response has been [...]
New York City schools will start vaccinating students against swine flu next week. Mayor Michael Bloomberg is urging parents to sign the consent forms that are going home with schoolchildren. Bloomberg joined Schools Chancellor Joel Klein and Health Commissioner Thomas Farley on Tuesday for a news conference about the vaccination program. They said the swine [...]
Amid a chorus of protests from nurses, a state Health Department official Tuesday defended the state’s decision to mandate flu vaccines for health care workers because too few had voluntarily gotten the shot in the past. Dr. Guthrie Birkhead, deputy commissioner in the state Department of Health, told the heads of four Assembly committees at [...]
As the city gears up to give out the H1N1 vaccine to school kids across the five boroughs, health officials are doing a test run with the seasonal flu vaccine. About 700 students will receive a free seasonal flu vaccine starting today. Officials say they want to work out any issues before the H1N1/swine flu [...]
With flu season officially getting underway on October 4, State Sen. Eric Adams is recommending New Yorkers take extra precautions against spreading H1N1 influenza, a.k.a. Swine Flu. “Preventive measures are our first line of defense,” said Adams, who represents Brooklyn’s 20th Senatorial District. ”Infection prevention and control products that have proven their effectiveness include face masks, gloves, hand sanitizers, [...]
When she cleans the rooms of patients with swine flu symptoms, Jana Newton, a housekeeper at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, has to suit up for her own protection in a mask, gloves, gown and hairnet. But she still does not want the one thing that would give her a far better defense — a [...]
Long Island’s Suffolk County has reported an eighth death from swine flu. County health officials said Friday the latest victim was a law enforcement officer who lived in Brookhaven and had an underlying medical condition. Suffolk Health Commissioner Dr. Humayun Chaudhry says the man, who was hospitalized June 17, worked outside of Suffolk County and [...]
Suffolk County has reported a seventh death from swine flu. County health officials said Friday that the latest victim was a Town of East Hampton man between the ages of 25 and 35 who also had a serious underlying medical condition. Suffolk Health Commissioner Dr. Humayun Chaudhry said the man died on Thursday. Authorities say the man [...]
As New York City braces for a second wave of swine flu this fall, health officials are making plans to carve space out of hospitals, clinics and other buildings to screen people before they can overwhelm emergency rooms. Hospital and city officials said in interviews that the biggest surprise from the swine flu that swept [...]
