A Message from Our Benefit Fund’s Medical Director, Celia Shmukler, MD
The H1N1 outbreak has just been declared a National Emergency, and it’s time for me to encourage you, as I do each year, to take extra precautions to avoid getting sick. Of course, this year is a little different than those past because the hype surrounding the H1N1 virus has many people feeling anxious about getting flu shots. However, our nation’s leading health experts are assuring us that the flu vaccines — for both the regular flu and the H1N1 virus — are safe*, very effective and the best way to protect ourselves, our families and our patients from serious illness.
As you may have learned, the New York State Department of Health is no longer requiring mandatory flu shots for healthcare workers because of the limited supply of the new H1N1 vaccine and the critical need to use it for those most at risk – pregnant women, children and young adults under 25 and health care and emergency medical services workers. Check with your doctor or the NYC Department of Health to find out where to go to be vaccinated.
However, there is an abundant supply of the seasonal flu vaccine available right now at our institutions and I encourage you to get vaccinated as soon as possible – especially if you are over 65, pregnant or have a chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease.
Of course, it’s also important to take other precautions to avoid spreading germs – for ourselves, our families and our patients. Wash your hands often or use a hand sanitizer, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough and avoid contact with people who are ill. And make sure to pass these precautions on to all of your family members, particularly your children, as we’ve seen increase in the number of children infected by the H1N1 virus over the past few weeks.
If you'd like more information about the flu, please visit the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for an informative page on their website at www.nyc.gov/html/doh.
* cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination