Health district offers pilot adult vaccine program

Naugatuck Valley Health District has begun implementation of a pilot Adult Immunization Program funded through a 2012 grant from the Katharine Matthies Foundation. 

Established in 1987, the Foundation supports and promotes quality educational, human services and health care programming for under-served population in the Valley. 
Through the grant, the district will offer outreach, health education, and vaccines to individuals in higher risk population groups, including aging and elderly individuals, health and child care workers, and people at risk for blood borne disease whether by occupation or lifestyle.

In cooperation with nursing students from Fairfield and Sacred Heart Universities, NVHD public health nurses will provide educational programs and materials at each of the district’s senior centers. 

In addition, information will be provided to child care facilities and long term care facilities in the district regarding the availability and importance of adult immunizations. Employers are encouraged to share the information with their staff, and in particular with those who may not have received these important vaccines due to lack of insurance or other financial resources.

The Tdap vaccine protects against tetanus, pertussis, and diphtheria and is recommended for adults who have close contact with young children in order to protect the child from contracting pertussis. 
The Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended to protect against a serious liver disease that can be spread by close personal contact. 
The Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for adults at risk for coming into contact with blood or bodily fluids. 

        Tdap, Hepatitis A, and Hepatitis B vaccines will be provided for uninsured adults working in the district’s child care and long term care facilities. 
       Vaccines will be given by appointment and those who do not have insurance are eligible to take part in the pilot immunization program. 

       For more information regarding immunization programs, call 203-881-3255 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.
 
      The Naugatuck Valley Health District office is located at 98 Bank St., Seymour, and serves residents of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Naugatuck, Seymour and Shelton.


This information is taken from a press release from the Naugatuck Valley Health District. 

Griffin breast wellness center in Derby receives state grant

Griffin Hospital CEO Patrick Charmel, center, receives a $74,480 grant from Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority (CHEFA) Executive Director Jeffrey A. Asher, left, and CHEFA Legislative Liaison/ECE Program Specialist David Wasch. 
Also pictured are Griffin Hospital Breast wellness outreach coordinator Cary Carpino, left, and Griffin Hospital Director of Radiology Christine Cooper, MS, CNMT.

DERBY - The Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority officially awarded a $74,480

grant to Griffin Hospital to help uninsured and underinsured women in the Valley receive breast cancer screenings.

The grant will enable The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital to provide approximately 150 free mammograms to women who have no health insurance or have insurance with a high co-pay or deductible for breast cancer screening services.

The grant will also cover any additional testing if something is found in the mammogram results. In addition, the grant will fund a Nurse Educator for Griffin Hospital’s Community Outreach and Valley Parish Nurses Program to raise breast cancer awareness and provide breast screening education for women in the Greater Valley community.

“This grant will go a long way in ensuring that women in the Greater Valley community receive vital breast cancer tests regardless of their ability to pay,” said Griffin Hospital President and CEO Patrick Charmel.
“Several towns and cities in the surrounding area have unemployment rates that are higher than the state and national average, forcing many families to choose between health insurance, or basic needs such as food and housing.”

The need for breast cancer screening funding recently became more critical with the possible elimination of the Connecticut Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection (CBCCEDP) program, which covers approximately 100 free mammogram at The Hewitt Center each year.

“We are very proud of our long term relationship with Griffin Hospital. This breast cancer screening program is further evidence of the Hospital’s patient-centered approach to every aspect of the care they provide and their commitment to providing patients with high quality service,” said CHEFA Executive Director Jeffrey A. Asher.

According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is diagnosed in women more than any other cancer, aside from non-melanoma skin cancer, and is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in Connecticut women.
The relative survival rate is much higher when the cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, before the disease has had a chance to progress.

The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness has been very active in seeking grants to provide free breast cancer screening and education. In recent months, the Center secured grants from Susan G. Komen for the Cure in Connecticut, The Hewitt Foundation and CT Community Foundation to provide more than 250 free breast cancer imaging or screening services to women in the Valley.

“We are very thankful to CHEFA for this grant,” Charmel said. “Part of Griffin Hospital’s mission is to empower individuals to be actively involved in decisions affecting their care and well-being through access to information and education; and to provide leadership to improve the health of the community it serves. This grant helps us greatly in achieving that goal and in bringing high-quality and compassionate care to the Greater Valley area.”

Located at 350 Seymour Ave., The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital combines state-of-the-art technology, a team of highly trained physicians and staff and a healing environment to offer patients a comprehensive range of personalized breast care and wellness services.
The Center provides state-of-the-art technology, expert breast surgeons, breast health navigators, genetic counseling, and a full continuum of care for patients that can be provided, in many cases, in that same day.
For more information, call 203-732-1300 or visit griffinhealth.org/cbw.

This information is taken from a press release from Griffin Hospital.