Volunteer ’Flu Fighters’ to hit streets in NYC
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Last Updated: 1:21 PM, October 14, 2009
Posted: 1:20 PM, October 14, 2009
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/volunteer_flu_fighters_to_hit_streets_Z69rw0x1R4X78WjXuJ7pvO
Some 800 volunteers will help New York City health authorities spread the word about getting vaccinated for both swine flu and seasonal flu.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the “Flu Fighters” program on Wednesday.
The volunteers will help manage the flow of people in and out of weekend vaccination centers that will be set up around the city. They will also distribute posters and brochures about the importance of getting vaccinated.
New Yorkers who want to volunteer can visit www.nyc.gov or call 311.
Wanna Get Swine Flu?
Posted at 3:32PM on Oct 14, 2009
http://cityfile.com/dailyfile/7562
If you’re going to eventually catch swine flu anyway, you might as well perform a little volunteer work in the process. Earlier today, Mayor Bloomberg announced a “Flu Fighters” program, which will recruit 800 volunteers to help the city spread the word about getting vaccinated for both swine flu and seasonal flu. Among other things, volunteers will be asked to help “manage the flow of people in and out of weekend vaccination centers that will be set up around the city.” This will bring you into contact with thousands of totally random (and possibly infected) New Yorkers, and you’lll ost likely fall ill a few days later. But the city will thank you for your service. And at least you can now coordinate your H1N1 infection around your busy schedule, which isn’t such a bad thing. [NYC.gov, AP]
CT:
Flu vaccine distribution mishandled
Updated: 10/14/2009 04:52:46 PM EDT
http://www.newstimes.com/search/ci_13560670?IADID=Search-www.newstimes.com-www.newstimes.com
Starting this week, doctors are appropriately receiving the first shipments of the H1N1 vaccine (also referred to as swine flu), but distribution of the seasonal flu vaccine is being handled much differently. Medical practices across Fairfield County are receiving only a fraction of their orders for the seasonal flu vaccine, which is equally important for high-risk patients.
Instead, much of the initial seasonal flu vaccine has been sent to pharmacies, grocery stores and other large-scale outlets where the sick, the elderly and the frail should not visit.
From a public health perspective, it makes little sense to give priority distribution of the H1N1 vaccine to physicians and not do the same for the seasonal flu vaccine. Since doctors are on the front line in caring for the most fragile of patients, they should be first in line to receive both flu vaccines. There is a precedent for this type of action. Under the settlement agreement that has just been reached with Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who raised similar concerns on behalf of the Visiting Nurses Associations, at least one vaccine manufacturer will now double the amount of seasonal flu vaccine distributed to the VNAs. Physicians also should have priority access to the seasonal flu vaccine.
We are concerned overly anxious, high-risk patients may feel compelled to get their seasonal flu shot in an environment that is less favorable to their health.
Mark S. Thompson
Executive Director,
Fairfield County Medical Association