Nov 21, 2009 1:50 pm US/Eastern
NYC Opens Weekend Swine Flu Vaccination Clinics
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
-
-
Justin Sullivan /Getty Images
New York City will operate swine flu clinics this weekend to vaccinate residents in high-risk groups.
Health officials are giving priority to pregnant women, those between the ages of 4 and 24, and anyone who lives or cares for infants under 6 months old.
The clinics will also vaccinate adults with underlying medical conditions that can make the flu even more dangerous, such as asthma, diabetes, heart and lung conditions or a weakened immune system.
Health care workers whose employers do not have the vaccine are also eligible.
City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley says getting vaccinated against H1N1 or swine flu is the best way to prevent its spread.
Residents can find flu clinic locations by calling the city's 311 line.
Sen. Charles Schumer said Tuesday that the federal government is notifying 10 companies in a crackdown on phony remedies to the swine flu now on the market. The Federal Trade Commission action follows his request earlier in the month to address what he calls gimmicks and fake cures. He says the products threaten efforts to vaccinate as many people as possible.
Schumer said the FTC effort is a major crackdown on businesses that prey on fear of the H1N1 virus.
He didn't release the names of the companies and they aren't charged with crimes.
Turnout was up at swine flu vaccine clinics that New York City is holding at public schools around the city. A total of 7,784 people were vaccinated at seven schools on Saturday, November 14. That's compared to only 1,701 on Nov. 7, the first day of the weekend vaccination clinics.
City health officials set up the weekend clinics to vaccinate middle school and high school students. After turnout was light on the first weekend they expanded the pool to include pregnant women, people who care for infants and adults with underlying medical conditions.
The swine flu vaccine is being offered to elementary schoolchildren at school.
The weekend clinics continue until Dec. 13.
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
World's Most Useless Facts
Click to enlarge
Paterson Proposes New Taxes To Close Deficit 29 mins ago 
'Blizzard-Like' Conditions On Tap For Tri-State 35 mins ago 
Stumble It!
Comments