NORWICH – With summer sadly retreating into the distance, fall has crept upon us bringing the changing color of the leaves, long-sleeved shirts and, unfortunately, flu season. Luckily, the Chenango County Department of Public Health is ready for action and suggests a few ways to keep yourself healthy in the coming months.
“Be Wise: Immunize for Good Health” is their slogan this year, but according to Public Heath Director Marcus Flindt, the message is more than just a catchy rhyme.
“Every year there are people who don’t want to get the shot,” he said. “But it’s been proven to be the top way to prevent the disease ... and it’s just not fair to people around you to neglect it.”
He also attributed the low numbers of people in the past to the vaccine’s lack of availability. Just four years ago, the only places anyone could go to get immunized were their personal physicians, the hospital and the Public Health office, he said.
However, a law passed in December of 2008 has made it possible for pharmacists to undergo training to administer the shot. According to Dr. Heather Ferrarese, RPH, of Bartle’s Pharmacy in Oxford, the class consists of 12 hours of home study and eight hours of a live class that teaches injection techniques and etiquette, at the end of which each pharmacist receives their certification.
The certification allows them to provide injections to anyone between the ages of 18-49 and most forms of insurance is accepted. Ferrarese said that as the trend has become more popular, more insurance companies have offered coverage.
“I feel it’s a very valuable service,” she said. “We’re very accessible for people who have difficult schedules – nights, weekends and holidays – and there is no co-pay for a doctor’s visit.”
Ferrarese believes that this opportunity has helped raise the immunization rates around the community and cited over 600 people immunized between September and April of last year. She explained that it is usually tough to predict this early in the season how widespread the virus will be, although often times pharmacists will look to trends in the Southern Hemisphere to determine how many doses of the vaccine should be acquired. This is especially important as the vaccine must be ordered at least a year in advance, said Ferrarese.
According to the World Health Organization, cold weather centers in the Southern Hemisphere, especially New Zealand, have resulted in increased outbreaks of the virus.
Ferrarese said she encourages everyone to speak with their doctor or pharmacist to determine if they’re qualified for the vaccination.
“It’s incredibly important to get vaccinated to prevent further outbreak,” she said.
Flindt explained that the increase in pharmacies that offer the vaccine doesn’t discourage Health Department.
“It is in no way a competition,” he said. “Our job is to keep people healthy ... it doesn’t matter where or how it happens as long as it happens.”
Marianne Kirsch, director of patient services, is charged with raising public awareness and running clinics which offer the vaccine across the county. She explained that seniors and infants are most at risk and stressed the importance of their programs.
To “kick-off” the clinic season, the department of public health, in conjunction with the Area Agency on Aging, will be putting on their 10th annual Flu and Pneumonia vaccine event from 9 a.m.-noon on Sept. 27 at the Norwich YMCA. The event offers immunization shots to seniors age 60 and over and will also host a variety of display booths for everyone who attends to enjoy while they wait.
“Besides the shots, we also try to make it fun and educational,” she said. The event will include booths from the Historical Museum, Cornell Co-operative Extension, United Health Services, and the NYS Attorney General’s office. There will even be a display by Master Class Falconer Lorrie Schumacher, who will show off a variety of live owls to fit the theme of “Be Wise: Immunize.”
According to Kirsch, the displays will cover a wide range of topics important to seniors such as scams targeting the elderly, community participation, insurance opportunities, osteoporosis prevention and nutrition. The Norwich City Police will also be on hand to collect un-used or outdated medical prescriptions with “no questions asked.”
Kirsch explained that over the next couple of months there will be numerous clinics around the area and at the County Office Building for seniors to get immunized. Children’s vaccines will become available in early October.
“It’s very important for every to receive this vaccine,” said Kirsch. “The CDC now recommends that everyone over the age of six months get immunized and we strongly recommend that parents of children six months and under get immunized for the safety of their kids.”
This year will also mark the first that the Public Health Department will offer the nasal spray version of the vaccine, which Kirsch cites as a “quick, effective way” to immunize children.
“There’s no needle ... it’s just an in and out procedure,” she said.
Kirsch explained that many people are afraid to get the vaccine due to myths that it will in fact give them the flu. She said this is absolutely not true, because the virus that is injected is in fact dead and only serves to incite the body to recognize it being present in order to create anti-bodies.
She also stated that the normal precautions must be observed over the next six months to help stop the spread of the virus.
“Cover your nose and mouth with your arm when you sneeze, wash your hands constantly, and do not go into work when you are sick,” she said.
For more information about influenza prevention, immunization clinics or healthy living contact the Public Health Department at 337-1729 or Kirsch at 337-1660.