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. 

Health district offers vaccine clinics

The Naugatuck Valley Health District will offer influenza vaccine clinics to residents of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Naugatuck, Seymour and Shelton during the months of September and October.
 This year’s flu vaccine (shot or nasal spray) will protect against the A/California/7/2009 (H1N1) virus; A/Victoria/361/2011 (H3N2)-like virus; B/Wisconsin/1/2010-like virus strains of influenza. Flu vaccination (the shot or nasal spray) is now recommended for everyone 6 months of age or older.

Clinics will be held at: Doyle Senior Center, Ansonia, 9-10:30 a.m. Tuesday; Naugatuck Senior Center , 9-11 a.m. Sept. 25; Seymour Senior Center, 9-11 a.m. Sept. 27; Derby Senior Center, 10:30 a.m-12:30 p.m. Oct. 9; Beacon Falls Senior Center, 9-10:30 a.m. Oct. 16; and the Senior Health Fair, Warsaw Park, Ansonia, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 18.
No appointments are necessary. Flu vaccine for adults and children will also be available by appointment during the district’s immunization clinics from 1-3 p.m. Tuesdays during the months of October and November at the district office in Seymour. Walk-n clinics for adults only will be Wednesdays during October and November from 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.

The Health District will accept AETNA, Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield, ConnectiCare and Medicare Part B if it is the primary insurance plan. Clinic attendees should bring all of their insurance cards to better verify their eligibility for flu vaccine coverage by their insurer. Medicare HMO’s, United and Oxford Health Care will not be accepted this year. The cost of the flu vaccine for those with other forms of insurance is $20, payable by cash, check, Visa or MasterCard. All clinic attendees should wear loose fitting clothes with short sleeves.

Elderly homebound persons who reside in district towns and who cannot attend any of the clinics may contact the Naugatuck Valley Health District at 203-881-3255 to make arrangements for a nurse to administer the vaccine at home. Such individuals should have permission from their physicians for the influenza vaccine. There are certain days scheduled for each town; call for an appointment.

For information regarding the flu clinic schedule, call 203-881-3255, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Naugatuck Valley Health District office is at 98 Bank St., Seymour, and serves residents of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Naugatuck, Seymour and Shelton.  Updates and additions to the clinic schedule will be posted at www.nvhd.org.   

This information is taken from a press release from the health district.
 

Health district to hold shingles vaccine clinic

SEYMOUR - The Naugatuck Valley Health District will hold a special clinic to provide the shingles vaccine Zostavax® ("ZOS-tah-vax") to individuals aged 60 and up. 

The first clinic will be held Sept. 10 at the health district office, 98 Bank St. Shingles vaccine will also be offered at weekly immunization clinics each Tuesday from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Appointments are required.

Anyone who has had the chicken pox is at risk for getting shingles. Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox. It is estimated that more than 90 percent of adults in America have had chicken pox. 

Shingles can be painful and can cause serious problems such as long-term nerve pain. Zostavax® is not a treatment for Shingles—it's a vaccine you can get now to help reduce your risk of getting Shingles in the future. The CDC recommends that everyone over the age of 60 years receive one dose of shingles vaccine. You should not get Zostavax® if you are allergic to any of its ingredients, including gelatin or neomycin, have a weakened immune system, take high doses of steroids, or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. People who have already had shingles can receive the shingles vaccine to help prevent future occurrences of the disease.

The cost for the vaccine is $200, payable by cash or check. Beginning in September, vaccine recipients will be able to use Visa, MasterCard or debit cards. The health district also accepts most Medicare Part D plans for the Shingles vaccine. This may lower out of pocket costs for those insured.

It is estimated that as many as 60,000 adults die each year from vaccine-preventable diseases. Too often, they forget to update their vaccinations or incorrectly assume the shots they received as children will protect them for the rest of their lives. 

The health district offers a wide range of vaccines to protect adults from preventable illnesses. The following adult vaccines are offered at weekly immunization clinics: tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough) also called Tdap; measles, mumps and rubella (MMR); shingles; hepatitis A; hepatitis B; varicella (chickenpox); meningococcal and influenza vaccines.

For information about the shingles vaccine clinic or any other vaccine services, contact Caleen McGuigan at NVHD from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, 203-881-3255.

The Naugatuck Valley Health District serves residents of the municipalities of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Naugatuck, Seymour, and Shelton. 

Health district to offer early intervention services

   Naugatuck Valley Health District announced today it will provide a new service for district residents.
Funded through a Ryan White Part A grant to Waterbury Health Department, the Early Intervention Services program provides community outreach, education and case management services to residents of the Central and Lower Naugatuck Valley.
 The EIS program staff will be at the NVHD office in Seymour once a month, beginning May 14, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Free screenings for sexually transmitted diseases will be available, as well as assistance in locating resources for health care within the community. Call 203-881-3255 for information.
   
    In addition, NVHD has added new vaccines to the list of immunizations available for adults, Varicella (chicken pox vaccine) and Tdap. People 13 years of age and older who have never had chickenpox or received Varicella vaccine should get two doses, at least 28 days apart.
Chickenpox vaccination is especially important for healthcare professionals, teachers, child care workers, residents and staff in nursing homes and residential settings, college students and international travelers.
  The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends use of a single dose of Tdap for adults 19-64 years of age to replace their next scheduled Td (tetanus diphtheria). The ACIP also recommended Tdap for adults who have close contact with infants younger than 12 months of age.

    For information about the district’s services, call 203-881-3255,  from 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. weekdays.
   The Naugatuck Valley Health District office is at 98 Bank St., Seymour. It serves residents of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Naugatuck, Seymour and Shelton.

This release was provided by Deborah Horvath, Assistant Director, Community Health Services,

Naugatuck Valley Health District.