Community Corner

Cuomo Declares Public Health Emergency for Flu in NY

Where to get your flu shot in Bed-Stuy

Governor Andrew Cuomo has declared a public health emergency in New York due to the increasingly severe flu season, which has reached epidemic levels in the United States this year.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nine of the ten regions of the United States have “elevated” flu activity. New York State falls into one of them.

The declaration now allows pharmacists to administer flu vaccinations to patients between six months and 18 years of age and suspends for the next 30 days the state’s law that limits the authority of pharmacists to administer vaccinations only to people 18 and older.

Find out what's happening in Bed-Stuywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"We are experiencing the worst flu season since at least 2009, and influenza activity in New York state is widespread, with cases reported in all 57 counties and all five boroughs of New York City," said Governor Andrew Cuomo, according to Reuters.

In New York, the governor's office said 19,128 cases of influenza have been reported this season, compared with 4,404 positive laboratory tests reported for the entire 2011-2012 season.

Find out what's happening in Bed-Stuywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Cuomo urged residents who had not gotten a flu shot to do so, noting that influenza cases continued to rise in New York.

If you're considering getting a flu shot, here are some Bed-Stuy locations that offer the vaccine (be sure to call first, as some pharmacies reportedly have run out of the vaccine):

Walgreens
756 Myrtle Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11206
(718) 237-4526

Duane Reade
247 Herkimer St
Brooklyn, NY 11216
(718) 623-0332

Walgreens
247 Herkimer St
Brooklyn, NY 11216
(718) 623-0332

Rite Choice Pharmacy
1484 Fulton Street
Brooklyn, NY 11216
(718) 773-3700


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