Posted 10/29/09
The Town of Amherst has received two hundred doses of Swine Flu (H1N1) vaccine; one (100) hundred on October 21 and one (100) hundred on October 22, 2009. This first round of vaccine was distributed to pediatric and obstetric facilities in Amherst with some doses being reserved for first responders in the Town of Amherst. Further, we have received notification of another two (200) hundred doses to arrive in the near future. We will continue to maintain contact with the Amherst Public Schools, the University and Colleges, and obstetrical and pediatric facilities in an effort to make the vaccine available to those individuals that are at the very top of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) program priority list.
Swine Flu (H1N1) continues to be a problem for the town of Amherst along with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the entire nation. We would recommend that citizens continue to follow advice from their health care professionals and take the necessary precautions as follows:
•Avoid hugging, holding, kissing or shaking hands with anyone who has a cold or the flu.
•Wash your hands often with soap and warm water or use an alcohol based hand sanitizer.
•Avoid touching your nose, mouth or eyes.
•Clean items that are touched often such as telephones and door handles.
•If you get sick, stay home and avoid contact with others.
•Severe symptoms should prompt you to contact your health care provider.
•Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when sneezing or coughing.
For information, please see the Fact Sheet on the Town of Amherst web site www.amherstma.gov or Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) web site at www.mass.gov/dph/flu or the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) web site at www.cdc.gov/swineflu.
Questions about this Press Release may be answered by:
Epi Bodhi, Director, Amherst Health Department, Town of Amherst – 413-348-5107 or 413-259-3077