Visiting Nursing Association offers immunization program

The Visiting Nursing Association of Western New York, in partnership with Kaleida Health, has announced its 2007 immunization program.

The program, which is now under way, is aimed at protecting the Western New York community from influenza and pneumonia.

Professional nurses will be administering influenza and pneumonia vaccines at more than 300 sites throughout the community.

The locations of the sites can be found on the VNA of Western New York Web site, www.vna-wny.org/flu, or by calling the VNA hotline at 630-8330 for Erie and Niagara counties or 487-1002 for Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties.

The fee for the flu immunizations is $30, and the pneumonia shot is $45.

The following insurance coverage is accepted: Medicare Part B, Independent Health, Univera and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of WNY.

Anyone 13 years old and older is eligible, although a parent or guardian must accompany children between 13 and 17 years old.

All proceeds of the campaign support charity home care at the VNA.

Though preventable, influenza causes an average of 36,000 deaths in the United States each year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognize that the best way to prevent contracting influenza is with an annual flu shot.

As a result, the CDC has launched an aggressive campaign in hopes of reaching a vaccination goal of 90 percent of adults over the age of 65 by 2010.

Despite low turnouts across the country in 2006, the VNA of Western New York administered over 43,000 flu and pneumonia vaccinations in various locations, including senior centers, fire halls, shopping malls, local businesses, town halls and churches.