Have you gotten your flu vaccine yet? It’s not too late!

The Onondaga County Health Department would like to remind people that it is not too late to get a flu vaccine.   The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months old and older get a flu shot each year.

Getting a flu vaccine every year is the best way to prevent yourself and others from getting the flu.  In a typical year, over 200,000 people nationally visit the hospital because of flu complications.  Although sometimes the flu may be mistaken for a severe cold, it can have much more serious effects for the young, the elderly, and others with health conditions.

The CDC continues to reinforce that an annual flu vaccine is particularly important for persons at high risk for complications due to the flu or for those who have contact with people at high risk.  People at high risk include young children, persons over 50 years of age, pregnant women, and people with chronic medical conditions.  People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications should also get a flu vaccine each year.

Flu vaccines cannot give you the flu because they are made from killed or weakened influenza viruses.   When side effects do occur, they are generally mild and include redness and soreness at the injection site for the flu shot; occasionally sore throat, runny nose; and rarely, fever after the nasal spray vaccine. While these symptoms can be uncomfortable and inconvenient, they are mild and resolve quickly when compared to a case of the flu.

Getting a flu vaccine helps to protect your health as well as that of your family, friends, and others.  Get your flu vaccine … to protect yourself and others!

 

Family Planning Closed Today

The Onondaga County Health Department’s Family Planning Clinic at the Dr. William A. Harris Health Center location (301 Slocum Avenue in Syracuse) is closed today, December 12, 2014 due to plumbing issues. Please call 435-3295 if you need immediate medical assistance or if you need to reschedule your appointment.  Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.

General Immunization Clinic Temporarily Closed Due to a Plumbing Issue

The Onondaga County Health Department’s General Immunization Clinic located at the Dr. William A. Harris Health Center, 301 Slocum Avenue, in Syracuse is closed for today, December 11, 2014 due to a plumbing issue.

The clinic will reopen next Thursday, December 18, 2014 for normal clinic hours, 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Please call 435-2000 for more information.

Family Planning Clinic Temporarily Closed Due to Flooding

The Onondaga County Health Department’s Family Planning Clinic located at the Dr. William A. Harris Health Center, 301 Slocum Avenue, in Syracuse is closed for the remainder of today, December 9, 2014 due to flooding.

Please call 435-3295 to reschedule today’s appointment.

The clinic will reopen tomorrow, December 10, 2014 for normal clinic hours, 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM.

The Onondaga County Health Department Announces A Public Flu Vaccine Clinic

Don’t forget your annual flu vaccine!  The Onondaga County Health Department will be holding a public flu vaccine clinic on Wednesday, November 19th from 10:00AM – 12:00PM, and again from 2:00PM-4:00PM, with special emphasis on reaching uninsured individuals.  The clinic will be held at the John H. Mulroy Civic Center, located at 421 Montgomery Street, Syracuse, NY 13202.  The clinic will be held in Room 30 in the basement.  Residents who would like more information on this flu vaccine clinic are encouraged to call 435-2000.

This clinic is a walk-in clinic and no appointment is necessary.   Vaccines will be free for Onondaga County residents, while supplies last.  The Onondaga County Health Department flu clinic will provide flu vaccines for anyone six (6) months of age and older.

Quoc Nguyen, MD, Onondaga County Health Department Medical Director, explained, “Getting your flu vaccine is the single best way to prevent getting the flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone over six (6) months old get an annual flu vaccine.” Nguyen further emphasized that the flu vaccine is especially important for children and adults with high risk conditions such as asthma.

New this year, the CDC has recommended that FluMist® (a vaccine that is sprayed inside the nose) is preferred over the traditional flu shot for children 2 through 8 years of age because it offers better protection in that age group.    At this flu vaccine clinic, FluMist„µ  will be available for any children and adults who prefer an alternative to the traditional flu shot.  FluMist„µ is only recommended and offered to healthy children and adults age 2-49 years old.

The CDC continues to reinforce that an annual flu vaccine is particularly important for persons at high risk for complications from the flu, or for those who have contact with people at high risk.  Those include the following:

  • Pregnant women
  • Children younger than five, but especially children younger than two years old
  • People 50 years of age and older
  • People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
  • People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
  • People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:

Health care workers
Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than six months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)

Children under the age of nine who have never had a flu vaccine series before will need two doses of vaccine.   The second vaccine should be given 4 weeks after the first shot or FluMist®. If your child is under age nine (9) and only received one dose of vaccine last year, they should receive one dose this year.

Getting a flu vaccine is the best way to protect your health as well as your family, friends, and others.  Get your flu vaccine to protect yourself and others!  For more information, call 435-2000.

Bat Positive for Rabies

Onondaga County Interim Commissioner of Health, Michelle Mignano, announced today that the New York State Health Department’s laboratory has reported that a bat found in the Park Avenue area in the city of Syracuse has tested positive for rabies. This is the tenth bat that has tested positive for rabies in Onondaga County this season.

Ms. Mignano explained, “It continues to be important to contact the Animal Disease Program at 435-3165 when you find a bat in your home or in a place that they are not usually found, on your lawn for instance, as it may be rabid.  The County would like to thank the community for their continued identification and reporting of bats in their homes during this season where the number of positive bat findings is greater than in past years.”

To bat proof your home, plug up any holes discovered with steel wool.  Also, repair window screen holes with wire mesh and caulk any other openings or cracks.

  • If your family (or your pet) has been exposed to a bat, capture the bat and have it tested for rabies. If someone is bitten by a bat, be certain to wash the area         where the bite occurred with soap and water and see your health care provider immediately.
  • If you awaken to find a bat in your room, or if a bat is present in the room of an unattended or sleeping child, or in a room with someone with a mental impairment, seek medical advice and have the bat tested.
  • Trap all bats found in your house and make sure that all bats that come into direct contact with people get tested.  Before trapping the bat, protect yourself with gloves and a hat.

To trap a bat:

  • Keep the bat inside of your home (do not let it escape outdoors)
  • Shut the door of the room to keep the bat isolated
  • Turn the lights on to slow the bat down
  • Collect the bat in a container with a secure lid
  • Call the Onondaga County Health Department’s Animal Disease Control at 435-3165 for further instruction
  • To view a video on how to capture a bat, visit www.ongov.net/health

It is important to keep your pet’s vaccinations current. This is especially important for dogs, cats, and ferrets. Getting your pet vaccinated can help stop the spread of rabies from wild animals to humans.

The Onondaga County Health Department offers a number of clinics throughout the year to protect your pet from rabies. New York State Public Health Law requires that all puppies and kittens get an initial shot at three months of age, with a booster shot every three years. Ferrets must get a shot every year. For a full schedule of upcoming rabies vaccination clinics visit www.ongov.net/health/documents/RabiesClinicSchedule.pdf, or call 435-3165.

Bat Positive for Rabies

Onondaga County Interim Commissioner of Health, Michelle Mignano, announced today that the New York State Health Department’s laboratory has reported that a bat found in the West Calthrop Avenue area in the city of Syracuse has tested positive for rabies. This is the ninth bat that has tested positive for rabies in Onondaga County this season.

Ms. Mignano explained, “This positive finding continues to show that it is critical, if you are exposed to a bat in your home (even if you do not touch the bat), to trap the bat and call Animal Disease Control immediately at 435-3165 for further guidance.”

To bat proof your home, plug up any holes discovered with steel wool.  Also, repair window screen holes with wire mesh and caulk any other openings or cracks.

  • If your family (or your pet) has been exposed to a bat, capture the bat and have it tested for rabies. If someone is bitten by a bat, be certain to wash the area where the bite occurred with soap and water and see your health care provider immediately.
  • If you awaken to find a bat in your room, or if a bat is present in the room of an unattended or sleeping child, or in a room with someone with a mental impairment, seek medical advice and have the bat tested.
  • Trap all bats found in your house and make sure that all bats that come into direct contact with people get tested.  Before trapping the bat, protect yourself with gloves and a hat.

To trap a bat:

  • Keep the bat inside of your home (do not let it escape outdoors)
  • Shut the door of the room to keep the bat isolated
  • Turn the lights on to slow the bat down
  • Collect the bat in a container with a secure lid
  • Call the Onondaga County Health Department’s Animal Disease Control at 435-3165 for further instruction
  • To view a video on how to capture a bat, visit www.ongov.net/health

It is important to keep your pet’s vaccinations current. This is especially important for dogs, cats, and ferrets. Getting your pet vaccinated can help stop the spread of rabies from wild animals to humans.

The Onondaga County Health Department offers a number of clinics throughout the year to protect your pet from rabies. New York State Public Health Law requires that all puppies and kittens get an initial shot at three months of age, with a booster shot every three years. Ferrets must get a shot every year. For a full schedule of upcoming rabies vaccination clinics visit www.ongov.net/health/documents/RabiesClinicSchedule.pdf, or call 435-3165.

National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, October 19–October 25, 2014

Nearly half a million children living in the United States have elevated blood lead levels that may cause significant damage to their health, estimates the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In Onondaga County, more than 8% of children tested in 2013 had high blood lead levels. The major sources of childhood lead exposure in Onondaga County include lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust found in older homes. The good news is that childhood lead poisoning is entirely preventable.

To raise awareness of childhood lead poisoning prevention, the Onondaga County Health Department (OCHD) is joining our state and federal partners to promote National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW), October 19-25th, 2014. This year’s theme, “Lead Free Kids for a Healthy Future”, reinforces the importance of testing your home for lead, testing your child for lead, and learning how to prevent lead poisoning.

Onondaga County Health Interim Commissioner, Michelle Mignano, states, “The most important thing we can do to prevent childhood lead exposure is to treat the source of the problem, which is often in the home.” Mignano emphasized that there are many ways families can reduce a child’s exposure to lead and encourages following these simple steps to protect your family:

  • Get your home tested for lead. If you rent your home, call the Onondaga County Health Department to learn about getting a free lead home inspection.
  • Get a lead home inspection before buying an older home (pre-1978). Home repair grants are available to remove lead from homes in the city of Syracuse and in Onondaga County.
  • Get your child tested. Have your child tested at age 1 and again at age 2. Even if your children seem healthy, ask your doctor to test them for lead.
  • Get the facts! The OCHD Lead Program can provide you with helpful information about preventing childhood lead poisoning by calling 435-3271, visiting www.ongov.net/health, or finding us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ongovhealth.

 

Bat Positive for Rabies

Onondaga County Interim Commissioner of Health, Michelle Mignano, announced today that the New York State Health Department’s laboratory has reported that a bat found in the Westminster Avenue area in the city of Syracuse has tested positive for rabies. This is the eighth bat that has tested positive for rabies in Onondaga County this season.

Ms. Mignano explained,” This bat was found in a room where an individual was sleeping.  It is critical that if you are exposed to a bat in your home, (even if you do not touch the bat) to trap the bat and call Animal Disease Control immediately for further guidance at 435-3165.”

  • To bat proof your home, plug up any holes discovered with steel wool.  Also, repair window screen holes with wire mesh and caulk any other openings or cracks.
  • If your family (or your pet) has been exposed to a bat, capture the bat and have it tested for rabies. If someone is bitten by a bat, be certain to wash the area where the bite occurred with soap and water and see your health care provider immediately.
  • If you awaken to find a bat in your room, or if a bat is present in the room of an unattended or sleeping child, or in a room with someone with a mental impairment, seek medical advice and have the bat tested.
  • Trap all bats found in your house and make sure that all bats that come into direct contact with people get tested. Before trapping the bat, protect yourself with gloves and a hat.

To trap a bat:

  • Keep the bat inside of your home (do not let it escape outdoors)
  • Shut the door of the room to keep the bat isolated
  • Turn the lights on to slow the bat down
  • Collect the bat in a container with a secure lid
  • Call the Onondaga County Health Department’s Animal Disease Control at 435-3165 for further instruction
  • To view a video on how to capture a bat, visit www.ongov.net/health

It is important to keep your pet’s vaccinations current. This is especially important for dogs, cats, and ferrets. Getting your pet vaccinated can help stop the spread of rabies from wild animals to humans.

The Onondaga County Health Department offers a number of clinics throughout the year to protect your pet from rabies. New York State Public Health Law requires that all puppies and kittens get an initial shot at three months of age, with a booster shot every three years. Ferrets must get a shot every year. For a full schedule of upcoming rabies vaccination clinics visit www.ongov.net/health/documents/RabiesClinicSchedule.pdf, or call 435-3165.