Flu Prevention Partners forms strategic partnerships for the upcoming flu season

This flu season, Flu Prevention Partners will be working with Home Care of Rochester (HCR) to promote the health of the community by providing a proactive immunization program to HCR's employees and clients.

This flu season, Flu Prevention Partners will also be working with Passport Health of Western NY to promote the health of the community by providing flu immunization services to Passport Health clients.

Flu Prevention Partners has partnered with Sanofi Pasteur, Inc. to provide employers with tools to successfully raise flu awareness and facilitate flu immunization programs among employees. Please go to our Employer Materials section to find out more.

Flu Clinic at the Dome Arena (Source: News 10 NBC, www.whec.com)

There were a lot of needles ready-to-go at the Dome Arena in Henrietta today to vaccinate against the seasonal flu.

Rosalie Polvino drove to the Dome Arena from Webster because her primary care physician ran out of the seasonal flu vaccine. “It makes you kind of scared because you wonder if they're going to have enough to go around.”

And she says she doesn't know what to do about getting the swine flu shot. t's supposed to be safe, but “that's what they say. But then I hear on the radio talk shows that it's not. So it makes me kind of nervous about that too.”

Husband Chuck Polvino said, “I think a lot of people are becoming paranoid about this whole swine flu situation. Not that it's not serious, it is serious but you've got to continue to live your life and you can't hide under the bed until the scare goes over.”

County Health Director Dr. Andrew Doniger says the swine flu vaccine should start trickling in soon and people shouldn't be afraid of getting a seasonal flu shot. “There doesn't seem to be any reason why people should avoid it at this time. It's been shown to be effective and it's very safe.”

After receiving the shot, people got a lapel sticker that asks 'Did You?'

Clinic Supervisor Eva Bellis said, “It prompts people to ask the question 'Did you what?' And it's to say, I got my flu shot and we really wish you would get out there and get yours as well.”

Public flu shot clinics limited, but vaccine still available (Source: Democrat and Chronicle, www.democratandchronicle.com)

The third of four companies that run public flu clinics has quietly canceled all of its scheduled seasonal flu vaccine sessions after today because of lack of vaccine, while the final clinic operator says its supply is fine.

Maxim Health Systems, a national company, will wrap up early after holding flu clinics from 2 to 6 p.m. today at these four local Rite Aids: 3349 Monroe Ave. in Pittsford Plaza; 1000 N. Clinton and 1792 N. Goodman St. in Rochester and 985 Ridge Road, Webster. All are walk-in clinics, so first come, first served. Maxim serves ages ages 9 and up.

Flu Prevention Partners, a Pittsford-based company, has a flu clinic from 1 to 6 p.m. today at Pittsford Fire Hall, 8 Monroe Ave., Pittsford, and then a dozen more in the coming weeks. For its full schedule, click on the calendar image at wpvitality.com/fluprevention. Flu Prevention Partners serves anyone 9 and up and also can vaccinate children ages 5 to 8 as long as they’ve had a flu vaccination in a previous year. That’s because children under 9 getting a flu vaccination for the first time need two doses, at least four weeks apart.

Eva Bellis, vice president of clinical operations at Workplace Vitality, of which Flu Prevention Partners is a division, said her company ordered directly from manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur rather than through a distributor and has received 60 percent of the 30,000 doses ordered. Typically the 10-dose vials contain enough extra vaccine to get 12 doses per vial, providing additional supply, Bellis said. Flu Prevention Partners also still expects to receive the rest of its order and will schedule additional clinics if the supply allows, she said.

Only one mass vaccinator is still providing seasonal flu shot clinics for the public in Monroe County. Flu Prevention Partners of Pittsford says its vaccine supply is fine and it expects to hold its remaining dozen clinics.

"We are going ahead as scheduled," said Eva Bellis, a vice president at Workplace Vitality, of which Flu Prevention Partners is a division.

Maxim Health Systems halted seasonal flu clinics as of today, becoming the third clinic operator to stop early because of vaccine shortages. Among Maxim's cancellations are multiple Tops and Rite Aid locations.

Meanwhile, supply at doctors' offices continues to vary, said Nancy Adams, executive director of the Monroe County Medical Society. Some may receive vaccine in late November or early December, which isn't too late for a seasonal flu shot, county health officials say.

Some remaining clinics include: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Georgetown Park Apartments, 510 De George Circle, Greece; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at Brighton Fire Department, 3100 East Ave., Brighton and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at Herrema's Marketplace, 125 Pattonwood Drive, Irondequoit.

For more information, call (585) 753-5600 or go to www.monroecounty.gov/health-flu.