The city of Hoboken sent out a press release about its swine flu plans:
Mayor Dawn Zimmer announced today that the City of Hoboken will begin a series of new initiatives in its ongoing efforts to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus (better known as Swine Flu). The new initiatives are designed to follow the Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) guidelines regarding the immunization of first responders, supplying vaccines to private medical providers, educating the public about the efficacy of the H1N1 vaccine and continued implementation of a “surveillance system” that allows the City’s Health Officer to actively monitor the H1N1 virus in Hoboken.
“The City of Hoboken’s H1N1 Task Force under the direction of Health Officer Frank Sasso is taking all the necessary measures to ensure that the public is informed about our plans for preventing the spread of the flu virus,” Mayor Zimmer said. “We are continuing to work closely with the Hoboken University Medical Center, Board of Education, private medical providers, first responders and other groups throughout the community to do all that we can to keep the residents of our community safe.”
In conjunction with the CDC and the New Jersey Department of Health and Human Services guidelines, Hoboken’s Emergency Medical Services first responders will receive H1N1 Swine Flu immunization shots. Ensuring that Hoboken’s first responders are immunized is vital to the safety of all the residents of the community and a central part of the CDC’s recommendations in planning for the virus. The City of Hoboken is also finalizing its plans to provide a series of HINI Swine Flu immunization clinics at the HUMC’s Assumption Hall and is waiting to receive its supply of vaccinations from the federal government.
The City of Hoboken has begun supplying private medical providers with nasal mist vaccines so that they can begin inoculating patients at their facilities. “The more outlets that provide vaccines, the better prepared our community will be in stemming any outbreak of the H1N1 virus,” Health Officer Frank Sasso said.
Answering the public’s concerns about the efficacy of the H1N1 Swine Flu vaccine is also an integral part of the City’s plans to prevent the spread of the virus. “We must all work together to let the public know the H1N1 vaccine works just like the seasonal flu vaccine and that the CDC’s recommendations are being closely followed in Hoboken,” Sasso said.
In addition, the City of Hoboken is also monitoring the H1N1 Swine Flu in Hoboken through its Health Department in order to make sure that any outbreaks are reacted to swiftly and with appropriate measures. “This early warning system is enormously helpful in our plans to prevent the outbreak of the H1N1 virus in our City,” Sasso added.
The City of Hoboken would also like to remind the public that the best defense against the spread of H1N1 Swine Flu virus or the seasonal flu is properly washing your hands, covering your cough and sneeze, staying at home if you are sick and receiving the vaccine from your private health care provider or through the City’s immunization programs.