Poughkeepsie... Dutchess County Executive William R. Steinhaus announced today the schedule for the County’s 2008 Flu and Pneumonia Vaccination Clinics.  Flu and Pneumonia Vaccination Clinics are conducted throughout the county each year by the Dutchess County Department of Health.  This year, clinics will be held from October 28th to December 8th.

“Getting the flu vaccine remains the number one way, in addition to hand washing, to prevent influenza from spreading throughout our community,” said County Executive Steinhaus.  “Flu vaccine is readily available this year and we are committed to ensuring flu and pneumonia vaccinations are available to those in the highest risk categories through our public Flu & Pneumonia Clinics.”

“It is important for the well-being and health of our community for our 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 Commissioner of Health Michael C. Caldwell, MD, MPH.

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 www.dutchessny.gov.

The 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
• 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 the flu vaccine and the pneumonia vaccine 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 $39. The fee for pneumonia vaccine is $58.  No one will be turned away for inability to pay the fee in full or in part.

See complete schedule below.

2008-2009  Influenza/ Pneumonia Clinic Schedule

1.  10/28/2008   Fishkill, Fishkill Baptist Church    10am to 1pm
     107 Route 82, Fishkill, NY, 12524

2.  11/3/2008   Poughkeepsie, Bright Horizons at Casperkill   10am to 1pm
     2330 South Road, Poughkeepsie, NY  12601

3.  11/ 7 /2008   Amenia, The Kildonan School    10am to 1pm
     425 Morse Road, Amenia, NY 12501

4.  11/10/2008   Red Hook, Red Hook High School    10am to 1pm
     103 W. Market Street / Route 199, Red Hook, NY, 12571

5.  11/17/2008   Pawling, Lakeside Park     10am to 1pm
     2 Lakeside Drive, Pawling, NY  12564

6.  11/21/2008   Millbrook, Cornell Cooperative Extension    10am to 1pm
     2715 Route 44, Millbrook, N.Y.  12545

7.  12/2/2008   Beacon, Fishkill Correctional Facility Community Ctr.   10am to 12pm
     Matewan Road, Beacon, N.Y.  12508

8.  12/8/2008   Poughkeepsie, Mid-Hudson Civic Center   10am to 12pm
     1 Civic Center Plaza, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.  12601