Prescription for New York

Most critically, there is nothing "regular" about influenza. The flu can be a serious disease. Each year in the United States 5-20% of the population gets the flu, more than 225,000 people are hospitalized, and more than 23,600 people die from flu (mostly older adults). During the 2010-11 flu season, there were more than 4,200 flu-associated hospitalizations in New York State and seven pediatric deaths. Over the past four years, 50 children in New York have died from the flu.

Influenza vaccination rates have always been lower than public health experts would like. Last year, only 43% of Americans got a flu shot, and that was a record year! We need to do better… we must do better.

The single best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from this potentially deadly disease is to get the flu vaccine each and every year.

Everyone 6 months of age and older should get vaccinated against the flu. Decades of research from hundreds of medical, government and nonprofit organizations around the world have proven time and time again that vaccines are safe and effective. Influenza vaccines have been used in the Unites States for more than 50 years and hundreds of millions of people have safely received seasonal influenza vaccines.

The 2011-2012 influenza vaccines protect against three different influenza viruses. Even though the vaccine did not change from last year, a person's immune protection declines over time. Annual vaccination is needed for optimal protection. Most flu vaccines are given with a needle, often called the "flu shot." The newest technology is an intradermal shot that uses a very short needle. Adults 65 years and older can receive a high-dose vaccine to boost their immunity. For healthy people 2 through 49 years who are not pregnant, there is a completely needle free vaccine that is squirted into your nose. This is ideal for many children and those who do not like needles.

- Dr.Nirav R.Shah M.D. M.P.H., State Health Commissioner  

The Prevention Agenda for the Healthiest State sets ten statewide public health priorities and asks local health departments, hospitals and other community partners to work together to address them. The emphasis of this public health initiative is on prevention strategies to improve the health of all New Yorkers and foster healthy communities. Priority areas include:

• Access to Quality Health Care
• Chronic Disease
• Community Preparedness
• Healthy Environment
• Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies, Healthy Children
• Infectious Disease
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse
• Physical Activity and Nutrition
• Tobacco Use
• Unintentional Injury

Comprehensive information about each of the ten Prevention Agenda priority areas is now posted on the New York State Department of Health website http://www.nyhealth.gov/prevention/prevention_agenda/.

For each priority area, content includes:

• Objectives, Indicators, Data and Statistics
• Program Descriptions and recommended strategies to address the priority area based on scientific studies and national or state guidelines. A premium is placed on evidence-based interventions that have proven effectiveness in reducing health risk and saving money.
• Partner organizations that communities can work with to address the priority area.

These pages contain links to both internal and external sources to make it easier to find information and download desired content. All of the pages are disability compliant to ensure that anyone can access them.