As you may have heard, Governor Cuomo has declared a New York State Public Health Emergency in response to this year’s increasingly severe flu season, and issued an Executive Order allowing pharmacists to administer flu vaccinations to patients between six months and 18 years of age. The Governor urged all New Yorkers to get vaccinated against the flu and follow accepted flu prevention practices. His announcement can be accessed at http://www.governor.ny.gov/press/01122013Severe-Flu-Season.
At CUNY, we continue to promote flu prevention by posting updated flu information on our web site, http://www.cuny.edu/flu, and coordinating our flu prevention efforts with the New York City Office of Emergency Management, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and other agencies to track developments and promote the health and well-being of the CUNY community.
The following websites offer information on symptoms of seasonal flu, methods for preventing its spread, and guidance on what to do in case of exposure:
NYC Office of Emergency Management
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Flu Clinic Locator
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Flu vaccine is available throughout the city in drugstores, most doctors’ offices and Health Department immunization clinics. Call 311 or use the City’s flu clinic locator to find a place that offers vaccinations. It is best to call ahead to make sure there is a supply and to find out if an appointment is necessary.
Additionally, CUNY regularly reviews its policies and procedures and recently revised its Infectious Disease Notification Protocol. We encourage you to contact your Campus Health Services Representative for more information on this or any other campus health-related issue.
Finally, if you need further information or clarification, please contact Howard Apsan, University Director of Environmental, Health, Safety and Risk Management, at firstname.lastname@example.org.