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HEALTH DEPARTMENT OFFERS FREE FLU VACCINE & BIVALENT COVID-19 BOOSTER CLINICS IN POMONA

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Now is the time to get immunized.

NEW CITY, NY, – Rockland County Executive Ed Day and County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert announce that the Health Department has scheduled multiple flu (influenza virus) and COVID-19 booster vaccine clinics.

Clinics will be held at the Robert Yeager Health Center, Building A, located at 50 Sanatorium Road in Pomona, on the following dates and times:

  • Friday, September 30, from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm.
  • Friday, October 7, from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm.

To make an appointment for the flu vaccine, visit http://rcklnd.us/flu.
To make an appointment for the COVID-19 booster, visit http://rcklnd.us/covid19.

The vaccines are free of charge. For those with Medicare, Medicaid, or private health insurance, please bring your health insurance card. In order to receive the flu or COVID vaccine, everyone must wear a mask. Walk-ins are welcome and will be registered on-site; however, there may be a wait.

The flu vaccine does not contain preservatives, including thimerosal. The vaccine offers protection against four different flu virus strains that research shows will be most common during this flu season: two influenza (flu) A virus strains and two influenza B virus strains. All flu clinics are for anyone ages 6 months and older. A high-dose flu vaccine will be given to those 65 years of age and older. Everyone 6 months of age and older should get the flu vaccine as soon as it becomes available each year before the flu begins spreading in your community. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends getting a flu vaccine by the end of October.

“The flu and COVID-19 are serious diseases that can lead to hospitalization and death. Even healthy people can get very sick from the flu and COVID-19 and spread it to those more vulnerable to complications. Preventing a severe flu season from arriving along with COVID-19 is critical to protecting yourself, your families, and the community. I encourage all eligible adults, adolescents, and children to get their flu shot and be fully vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19 as soon as possible,” said Dr. Ruppert.

The new COVID-19 bivalent boosters, authorized by the Food and Drug Administration in August 2022, can be lifesaving and protective against variants not included in the primary vaccine series. These new COVID-19 boosters are tailored to protect against Omicron BA.4/BA.5 subvariants now circulating and the original version of the virus, strengthening previous vaccination protection. Everyone 12 and older can receive the updated bivalent COVID-19 shot at least two months after their most recent vaccine or booster dose. The monovalent mRNA Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine remains authorized for use as boosters in children ages 5 through 11 and for all primary series vaccinations. More information on booster eligibility can be found here.

Besides staying up-to-date on your immunizations, follow these good health habits: avoid close contact with people who are sick, stay home when you are sick, cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, wash your hands often, and avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. More information on preventive measures can be found here.

For more information about the flu vaccine, visit http://rcklnd.us/flu or call 845-364-2534. For assistance making a flu vaccine appointment, call 845-238-1956. For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine/bivalent booster or help making an appointment, visit http://rcklnd.us/covid19 or call 845-238-1956. 

HEALTH DEPARTMENT OFFERS FREE RABIES SHOTS FOR CATS, DOGS, AND FERRETS OCTOBER 2nd

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BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

NEW CITY, NY, – Rockland County Executive Ed Day and County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert announce free rabies shots (vaccinations) are available for cats, dogs, and ferrets belonging to Rockland residents by appointment only on Sunday, October 2, 2022, from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm at the Robert Yeager Health Complex, 50 Sanatorium Road in Pomona (Follow the complex signs for Building D). An appointment is required for each animal. The shots are free; however, a $5 donation per animal will help defray our costs.

To register for an appointment, please visit http://rcklnd.us/rabiesvax. For assistance making an appointment, call (845) 364-2656. Please check Facebook.com/rocklandgov for any cancellations before arrival.

“There is no treatment for rabies. The good news is this disease can be easily prevented via a rabies vaccine. We remind all Rockland County residents to make sure that their animals are immunized against rabies and that the vaccinations are kept up-to-date,” said Dr. Ruppert.

To get their free rabies shot:

  • Your dog, cat, or ferret must be healthy.
  • Your pet must be older than three months.
  • Your dogs must be on a leash.
  • Your cats and ferrets must be on a leash or in a top-opening container.

New York State law requires that all dogs, cats, and domesticated ferrets be vaccinated against rabies by four months of age. Owners can be fined up to $250 if they fail to get their pets vaccinated and keep them up-to-date. All animal bites and animals suspected of having rabies must be reported to The Rockland County Health Department at (845) 364-2656. After hours, callers should contact the sheriff at (845) 364-8600.

“Your pets depend on you to keep them healthy. Please take advantage of this opportunity and vaccinate your pets. Vaccinating your dog, cat, or ferret is the best way to protect them and the other members of your family from this disease,” said County Executive Day.

For more information on animal rabies or the rabies vaccine, call the Rockland County Department of Health at (845) 364-2656 or visit our website: http://rocklandgov.com/departments/health/environmental-health/rabies/. 

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