New York announced free swine flu vaccinations Tuesday for all elementary school students ahead of the new academic year and a feared resurgence of H1N1 infections.
The mayor's office and the city health department said the free shots would be given for the next several months to students whose parents requested them.
The city also said it was working with hospitals to ensure extra emergency room capacity, as well as designating clinics that will focus on giving the flu jabs and caring for outpatients.
Also, "hundreds of Flu Fighters will visit senior centers, houses of worship, schools and other places to spread the word about seasonal flu and the importance of getting vaccinated against it," the city agencies said in a statement.
"Today is the first of what will be many efforts to keep New Yorkers informed about what we are doing to prepare for the return of the H1N1 and seasonal flu," said Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
"We can?t predict this year?s flu season, but we can make sure that City government is fully prepared."
New York was a top hot spot for swine flu during an initial outbreak in the spring.
With the regular autumn influenza season approaching, and public schools reopening September 9, the city is again bracing for trouble.
In the US government's worst-case scenario the virus, which appears to infect disproportionately large numbers of young, could cause as many as 90,000 deaths in the United States alone.
Since it appeared in Mexico this April the virus has infected about two million people across the country, with 7,983 hospitalized and 522 dying -- although many of them suffered from other health problems.
New York officials have repeatedly stressed that swine flu has so far proved far less deadly than ordinary influenza, which kills more than 35,000 people each year nationwide.
"Neither the seasonal virus nor the H1N1 virus is expected to cause unusually severe illness, but the sheer volume of cases could tax hospital emergency departments as people with symptoms seek information, reassurance and treatment," the city said.
Meanwhile, the Daily News quoted the head of the hospitals at the brunt of the last swine flu in New York as saying that the health department was not doing enough to help.
"We're getting no help whatsoever," David Rosen, head of the network running three hospitals in Queens and Brooklyn neighborhoods.
"You might think that somebody would help us, but we're a week a way from schools reopening and there's been no discussion."
Copyright 2009 AFP Global Edition
