Nassau health officials urge residents to get vaccinated for the flu

Nassau County health officials on Tuesday urged residents to get flu shots, citing the recent death of an unvaccinated Florida child from the virus. 

Florida state health officials on Monday announced that the child — who did not have an underlying medical condition — died from the flu between Sept. 30 and Oct. 6. It was the first pediatric case of influenza-related death reported this flu season. 

While flu activity remains low across the United States, Dr. Paul Pipia, chief medical officer and interim president and interim chief executive officer of NuHealth System, which runs the Nassau University Medical Center, said now is the time to get vaccinated.

The flu is "really not that much in New York yet, but we want to make sure everybody gets vaccinated,” Pipia said at a news conference in East Meadow.

The vaccination helps to prevent the infection, he said, as well as rendering the virus less debilitating and of shorter duration.

Last year’s flu season, Pipia said, killed about 80,000 people in the United States, mostly adults 65 and older, but also about 200 children.

Residents of all ages, including those with no health insurance, can get free flu shots at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, said Irene Koundourakis, the hospital’s spokeswoman.

Koundourakis said the hospital’s staff will also provide free flu shots for residents over 60, on the following dates, places, and times.

          Oct. 18: at Freeport Recreational Center, 130 East Merrick Rd. in Freeport, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

          Oct. 19: at East Meadow Library, 1886 Front St. in East Meadow, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

          Oct. 22: at Wantagh Senior Center, 1150 Seamans Neck Rd. in Wantagh, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

          Oct. 24: at Franklin Square Senior Center, 1182 Martha Pl. in Franklin Square, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

          Oct. 31: at Merrick Senior Center, 2550 Clubhouse Rd. in Merrick, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

          Nov. 2: at Uniondale Merrick Senior Center, 750 Jerusalem Ave. in Uniondale, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

          Nov. 5: at Levittown Senior Center, 555 N. Newbridge Rd. in Levittown, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.