SOUTHEAST

More than 2,000 men, women and children are protected against seasonal flu thanks to the county’s 6th annual Vote and Vax initiative. People lined up outside Brewster High School—as well as Haldane High School in Cold Spring—and waited for as long an hour on Election Day to receive the free flu vaccine.

The clinics were held in conjunction with the Putnam Health Department, the county’s Medical Reserve Corps, the Putnam Bureau of Emergency Services, and the Putnam Sheriff’s Department, who all worked with the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Task Force.

Barbara Ilardi, of the Health Department, thanked the hundreds of Medical Reserve Corps members who volunteered to participate in the points of distribution. Alice DuBon, a public health nurse who coordinated the Brewster site, attributed the large response to the fact that “seasonal flu supplies have been limited this fall. The Health Department as well as many physicians ran out of the vaccine. It’s nice to see such a great turnout now that a new supply has arrived.”

Ilardi also announced Putnam’s first H1N1 vaccine clinic that will be held for “specific high priority individuals only” at the Putnam Valley Middle School. Ilardi said due to the limited quantity of the H1N1 vaccine, the following groups of people will be eligible for an inoculation: “Pregnant women, persons who live with or care for infants less than six months of age and health care and EMS personnel who have direct contact with patients and children six months to 24 years of age.” The clinic is scheduled for Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Visit the Health Department website at www. putnamcountyny.com for additional information.

Ilardi said those attending Saturday’s clinic will require proof of Putnam County residency or employment.

–Eric Gross