2001

Those who spoke at the kickoff included, from left, Buffalo City Court Judge James McLeod, Black Leadership Forum represntative; Ann McCarthy, Consumer Affairs Manager, Wegmans Buffalo Division; Marsha Henderson, President, KeyBank, Western New York District, and Gary Brice, Ed.D., Assistant Vice President, Kaleida Community Health & Wellness.

Michelle Cooper, R.N., gives Andres Garcia, Vice President, Kaleida Government and Community Relations, a flu shot as Mary Kaye (standing left) and Debra Stubeusz, M.D., both of Kaleida Employee Health, look on.

With KeyToon, Campaign Sponsor KeyBank's mascot, at the kickoff event of the Kaleida VNA Immunization Campaign are (from left) Jerry Flaschner, Publisher, Living Prime Time and "father" of the immunization campaign, Ann McCarthy, Consumer Affairs Manager, Wegmans Buffalo Division; Andy Rizzo, M.D., Medical Director, Marsha Henderson, President, KeyBank, Western New York District, and State Senator Byron Brown.

BUFFALO, NY, Nov. 5, 2001 - The 10th annual Kaleida Health VNA Immunization Campaign is under way after a kick-off event Nov. 1at St. John Baptist Church in Buffalo. The only local philanthropic campaign, the Kaleida VNA Immunization Campaign which has immunized tens of thousands against the flu, or influenza, has made a difference in the lives of so many in just a decade, organizers explained.

This year, the campaign is adding the pneumonia vaccine.

"The Kaleida Health Foundation as campaign organizer and KeyBank as sponsor, can be extremely proud of the fact that they have made such a positive and significant impact on the health of the community in these 10 years," said Gary Brice, Ed.D., Assistant Vice President, Kaleida Health Community Health & Wellness. "We have estimated that, with nurses administering a total of 250,000 flu shots by the close of this campaign, the Western New York community has been spared $9.4 million in health care costs and workforce absenteeism.

"The campaign furthers Kaleida Health's mission to improve the health of the communities we serve and reduce health disparities among minority populations," Dr. Brice added. "Through the years we have raised the level of awareness for the importance of obtaining protection against the flu each year and literally covered many, many high-risk individuals in a variety of communities with the immunization."

He explained that an average 20,000 people in the United States die each year from complications of the flu, highlighting the need for this annual immunization.

"Philanthropically, the campaign's impact in 10 years also is impressive. We have provided nearly $1 million in charity home care services through the Visiting Nursing Association of Western New York," Dr. Brice said.

Buffalo City Court Judge James A.W. McLeod, representative of the Black Leadership Forum and member of the Kaleida Health Board of Directors, praised the partnership developed this year among the campaign and community organizations and churches on the east and west sides of the City of Buffalo. The new effort increases the number of campaign sites within these communities and will provide immunizations for those who could not otherwise afford them.

"This immunization program is the first community effort to specifically target high-risk, minority communities of African-American and Latinos, and as a result, I would be remiss if I were not to commend Kaleida Health for taking a leadership role in promoting a healthier community," Judge McLeod said. "I also would like to acknowledge and thank the Oishei Foundation, Joy Foundation, Fatta Foundation and the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus for their financial support, which has helped to make this important immunization program possible."

Marsha Henderson, President, KeyBank Western New York District; Andy Rizzo, D.O., Medical Director, Kaleida VNA Immunization Campaign; Ann McCarthy, Consumer Affairs Manager, Wegmans Buffalo Division, and Ruth Bryant Lynch, Chair, St. John Baptist Church Board of Directors also spoke at the event. Andres Garcia, Vice President, Kaleida Health Government and Community Relations, stepped up to receive the first flu immunization.

Flu shots, at a cost of $15, and pneumonia shots at $25, are being administered at KeyBank locations, Wegmans, Quality Markets, churches, senior centers, malls and many other community sites throughout Western New York.

Immunizations will be given until 7 p.m. today at St. John Baptist Church.

Those recommended to receive the influenza vaccine:

• Anyone 65 years and older;
• Persons with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, heart, lung or kidney disease;
• Persons whose immune systems are weakened by disease or drug therapy.
• Residents of nursing homes and chronic-care facilities.
• Pregnant women in their fourth month or later during the flu season.
• Health care workers and others who have close contact with persons of high-risk.

Pneumonia shots are recommended for:

• Anyone 65 and older who have never had it;
• Those who had it before they were 65;
• Anyone with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, heart, lung or kidney disease, or anyone whose immune system is weakened due to long-term steroid therapy, HIV/AIDS, chemotherapy, non-functioning or no spleen, or organ transplant.

Other community partners assisting the campaign include: Adelphia, Erie County Health Department, Erie County Health Department Disease Control, Healthy Community Alliance, Independent Health, Living Prime Time, United Way of Buffalo & Erie County, University at Buffalo School of Nursing, Wegmans and the WNY Public Health Coalition.

Medicare Part B, Blue Cross and Blue Shield's Senior Blue, Independent Health and Univera will cover the cost of the vaccine.

For other sites, dates and locations, please call VNA-FLUU (862-3588), or go to the Kaleida Health VNA Immunization Campaign Site List at www.kaleidahealth.org. Our toll-free quality assurance phone line for those outside the local calling area is 1-877-305-8083.