Poughkeepsie… Dutchess County Executive William R. Steinhaus has announced the 2007 schedule for the County’s Flu and Pneumonia Vaccination Clinics.  The Dutchess County Department of Health conducts Flu and Pneumonia Vaccination Clinics each fall at convenient locations throughout the county.  Nine scheduled clinics will be held from October 22nd through December 17, 2007. 

County Executive Steinhaus said, “The flu vaccine is the best protection available against influenza. We are committed to making flu and pneumonia vaccinations available to those in the highest risk categories because the health and well being of Dutchess County residents is always our top priority.”

Clinics have been scheduled with extended hours in locations that are easily accessible and can accommodate large crowds in a safe and efficient manner.   “We have found extending the hours allows our older adults to be better served with less of wait and provides them with more assistance.   This is especially important, given some of the medical needs our clients have,” said Commissioner of Health Michael C. Caldwell, MD, MPH.   “We have selected venues that are easily accessible and can handle the volume of people who take advantage of this service.    Plus, many of the sites are accessible by public transportation.” 

Dutchess County’s Division of Public Transit provides transportation throughout Dutchess County.  A copy of their schedule can be found at https://www.dutchessny.gov/.

County Executive Steinhaus has also directed representatives from various county departments to be available at each of the clinics to distribute information about programs and services in Dutchess County important to seniors such as the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), which helps underwrite the cost of heating fuel oil for seniors and Home Weatherization program through the County’s Division of Aging Services; as well as services available through the Department of Social Services’ Adult Protective Services Unit and the Veteran Services Agency.

Information about flu immunization and the public flu clinic schedule may be obtained by calling the Department of Health's Flu Immunization Hot-Line at (845) 486-3435. The hot-line is available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, or log onto the County’s website at https://www.dutchessny.gov/.

These clinics will offer the flu vaccine to:

• Anyone 50 and older
• Adults (18 years of age and older) with chronic health problems including heart disease, lung disease, diabetes mellitus, kidney disease and conditions effecting the immune system)
• Pregnant women
• Household contacts and out-of-home care givers of children less than 6 months of age
• Healthcare workers who provide direct patient care
• Household contacts of those at highest risk of complications from the flu.

All clinics will offer pneumonia vaccine to:

• Adults 18-64 years of age with certain chronic medical conditions; and,
• Adults 65 years of age and older.

Both vaccines are covered by Medicare Part B. Medicare cards must be brought to the clinic. Adults enrolled in Medicare HMO’s may be required to pay the fee. The fee for flu vaccine is $20. The fee for pneumonia vaccine is $25.

“It is important for the well-being and health of our community for residents to get their flu vaccine.   Influenza is not a disease that should be dismissed as a small cold.   It is a disease that can attack even a healthy person,” said County Executive Steinhaus.    “You can protect yourself by getting vaccinated against the flu at your doctor’s office, or the many grocery stores and pharmacies that are providing the vaccine, or at one of our pubic flu clinics,” he concluded.

Please find below the Dutchess County flu and pneumonia vaccination clinics for 2007.

2007 Influenza Vaccination Clinic Schedule
October 22	Fishkill Baptist Church 107 Route 82, Fishkill, NY	10:00am - 2:00pm
October 29	Bright Horizons at Casperkill  2330 South Road, Poughkeepsie, NY	10:00am - 2:00pm
November 2	Silo Ridge County Club  4651 Route 22, Amenia, NY	10:00am - 2:00pm
November 5	Gold’s Gym - Family Sports Complex (LaGrange)  258 Titusville Road, Poughkeepsie, NY	10:00am - 2:00pm
November 21	Red Hook High School  103 West Market Street, Red Hook, NY	10:00am -1:00pm
November 30	Pawling Recreational Facility  2 Lakeside Drive, Pawling, NY	10:00am - 1:00pm
December 4	Cornell Cooperative Ext – Farm & Home Center  2715 Route 44, Millbrook, NY	10:00am - 1:00pm
December 11	Fishkill Correctional Facility Community Center  Matteawan Road, Beacon, NY (just past Beacon HS)	10:00am - 1:00pm
December 17	Mid-Hudson Civic Center  1 Civic Center Plaza, Poughkeepsie, NY	10:00am - 1:00pm