NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg and Health Commissioner Tom Farley got their seasonal flu shots in Duane Reade’s pharmacy at 100 Broadway in Manhattan.
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Bloomberg received his flu shot at Duane Reade’s new store at 100 Broadway in Manhattan. |
The Walgreen Co. drug chain said Bloomberg and Farley received their flu vaccinations Thursday in order to highlight the importance of flu preparedness to New Yorkers.
"Getting the flu is no fun at all, and it can even be deadly," Bloomberg said in a statement. "Every year, too many New Yorkers lose their lives to influenza, and the flu vaccine is the single most important protection against getting sick and spreading the flu to others. I urge everyone to go to their doctor, local health clinic or pharmacy and get a flu vaccine as soon as they can."
In New York, Duane Reade and Walgreens pharmacists can administer flu shots to those age 18 and over. New this season, Walgreens and Duane Reade pharmacies are also offering a free immunization assessment with every flu shot. The drug chain said the assessment can help patients decide if they need other immunizations, based the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
"We are proud to have Mayor Bloomberg reinforce to all New Yorkers the need for protection and prevention with his flu shot. Through greater access to immunizations across our network of Duane Reade and Walgreens pharmacies throughout New York, we are helping more customers get, stay and live well," stated Jeff Koziel, market vice president for Walgreens. "For those who have not gotten a flu shot yet, it is prime time for prevention with changes in the weather, the upcoming holiday travel season and many other ways in which germs and viruses spread this time of year."
The mayor’s office reported that last year, about 67% of New Yorkers age 65 and older received a flu immunization, up from 63% in 2010. Though more people got a flu shot, the numbers still showed that one in three people in that age range lack flu vaccine protection.
"Everyone six months and older should get a flu vaccine every year," Farley stated. "But for more vulnerable people, like adults 50 and older, people with medical conditions, pregnant women and children under 5, it is especially important to ward off coming down with influenza by getting vaccinated. While maintaining good personal hygiene — washing your hands, covering your cough, and staying home when ill — helps diminish the spread of the virus, getting the flu vaccine is the best ‘shot’ we have going to prevent flu-related death and illness."
