Public Employee Press

HHC offers workers free flu shots

The New York City Health and Hospitals Corp. recently announced an aggressive campaign to provide free flu shots for all employees in its health care facilities. Getting the shot protects the employees and keeps them from passing the virus to their families, neighbors and patients.

The shots will be available free to HHC employees until April 30, 2008; however, the corporation advised workers to get the shot before January, when ­influenza activity increases. The flu season can last until May.

In an effort to make it easier for employees to get flu shots, HHC is bringing the shots to them during a vaccination “blitz” that runs through Nov. 4. Trained staff with vaccine-loaded carts will travel hospital halls so workers can take their shots in a brief break at their worksites on all shifts.

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by the powerful influenza viruses, which can cause mild to severe illness and even death. The flu kills hundreds of New Yorkers every year.

The illness is spread mainly from person to person when people with influenza cough or sneeze and others touch something with the flu viruses on it and then touch their mouth or nose, giving the virus easy access to the body.

Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five days after they become sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

HHC employees who get the flu shot before Nov. 4 will be eligible to participate in a lottery where the winners will receive a $100 gift card.