Flu Update!

Plans are underway to provide both seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccine to Newton residents.

 

The adult seasonal flu clinic will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 28, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. This clinic is for Newton residents age 50 and up, and for adults age 18 and up with chronic medical conditions. This clinic is free, but residents are asked to bring their Medicare or insurance card. An ample supply of seasonal flu vaccine is expected.

 

H1N1 vaccination clinics will also be held for Newton residents. We expect to begin these some time in November, depending upon when the vaccine arrives. The first groups of individuals vaccinated will be people who fall into one of these target groups:

• Pregnant women
• Household contacts and caregivers of infants under 6 months of age
• Healthcare providers and emergency medical responders
• Children and young adults age 6 months to 24 years old
• People age 25 to 64 years old with underlying medical conditions

Once the target groups are vaccinated, the H1N1 vaccine will be available to any Newton resident who wants it. Updated information about vaccination clinics and the flu season in general is available online at www.newtonma.gov/flu or by calling our flu hotline at 617-796-1426.

Newton Prepares for Flu & H1N1

The Newton Health Department has been all about flu vaccines in recent months.  Here’s an update on what preparations are underway for seasonal and H1N1 vaccinations this Fall.

 Seasonal flu vaccine will be provided to adults age 50 and older and to younger adults with chronic medical conditions. The process will be the same as it has been in years past.  This year the Massachusetts Department of Public Health will provide us with our vaccinations in October, so you can expect to see a seasonal flu clinic for Newton residents in early to mid-October. We usually hold them at American Legion Post 440 on California Street and plan to do the same this year, barring any unforeseen date conflicts.

 We’re also expanding a pilot program we conducted last year in the public middle schools. This year parents of both middle and high school students will have the opportunity to sign their child up to receive the seasonal flu vaccine at school. We’re partnering with Maxim Health Systems again. The flu shot will be available for $25 and the intranasal flu vaccine (FluMist) will be $35.

 However, we’re not the only place in town to get a seasonal flu vaccine. If you would like to have yours earlier, you have options. Many primary care providers and other physicians are expected to begin providing vaccine in late August. Community providers hold clinics in local pharmacies as well. Often employers will provide vaccine to their workforce, so check with your Human Resources department to see if your employer will be providing vaccine. There may be a cost associated with some vaccine providers. http://flu.masspro.org/ This website – once it is updated as we get closer to flu vaccination season – is a place where details about many public clinics are posted.

 In addition to seasonal flu vaccine, we also expect to be providing the H1N1 (swine-origin) influenza vaccine that’s currently in production. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is optimistic that this vaccine will be available in small amounts beginning in October. Vaccine production will continue as long as there is demand for the vaccine, so we expect to have H1N1 vaccine for anyone who wants it. However, there will be priority groups of people who we need to vaccinate first because their circumstance makes them more vulnerable to the H1N1 flu. These groups are:

• Pregnant women
• Household contacts and caregivers of infants under 6 months of age
• Healthcare providers and emergency medical responders
• Children and young adults age 6 months to 24 years old
• People age 25 to 64 years old with underlying medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease)

Once we have a better idea of when the H1N1 vaccine will arrive, we’ll be announcing clinic dates and times. You may call our flu hotline at 617-796-1426 for updated clinic information.

 Both the CDC and the MDPH had great flu websites with lots of Frequently Asked Questions. You may access both sites from the city’s health department page.  http://www.ci.newton.ma.us/Health/disease.html#swine

 Remember this is a rapidly evolving flu season and we’ll do our best to keep you up-to-date will all the latest information.

Hotel/Motel and Meals Tax Update

Hello cyber folks.  Thought you all might be interested in an update on the hotel/motel and meals tax decisions we’re making here in Newton.

Like all other cities and towns in Massachusetts, the City of Newton endured a deep cut in state aid funds.  The funds we receive from the state make up nearly 8% of our annual budget.  In fiscal year 2010, we endured an 11.4% cut from last year’s local aid level – a total of $2.4 million.  In total, our budget deficit in FY’10 was $4 million.

To help local communities cope with less local aid, the Legislature adopted a measure that would enable cities and towns to increase the tax on meals by .75% and hotel/motel stays by 2%.  I met with the three hotel proprietors, and I sent letters to more than 220 restaurant owners notifying them he intended to recommend to the Newton Board of Aldermen that these two increases be implemented.

Last evening the Newton Board of Aldermen approved the hotel/motel tax by a 21-1 vote, with 2 absences.  As of October 1^st, stays at Newton hotels will include a 7% local tax instead of a 5% tax.

The Finance Committee decided further discussion was needed on the meals tax issue and held it in Committee.  Since the next meeting of the Committee is not scheduled until September 14^th, the meals tax will not go into effect in Newton on October 1^st.  If the proposal passes Finance, and is approved by the full Board by mid-November when we set the tax rate then the increase will take effect on January 1^st.  If the proposal is not approved by mid-November, the earliest it would take effect is July 1, 2010.

I consider raising taxes a necessary evil, especially in today’s troubled financial times.  But we have many needs here in Newton, and these $2 million in recurring funds would help us stave off painful cuts to programs and services many of our citizens rely on.

I hope you will stay tuned to the Board of Aldermen’s discussion of the meals tax!  There is a public hearing on the matter scheduled on Monday, September 28^th at 7:45 pm in Room 222, 2^nd floor of Newton City Hall.  Be sure your voice is heard on the meals tax discussion!

Welcome!

Welcome to the official City of Newton blog!

This blog will provide a medium for City officials to share information and express their opinions with the public.  Whether it’s an update on the status of the new trash collection system soon to be launched citywide, the announcement of an upcoming Summer concert or happening, or musings on the progress of the new Newton North, this blog will be the place to look for insider thoughts on the state of the city.

Please note that we welcome your comments and hope you will become a regular contributer to this blog.  Posts will be monitored, and we do reserve the right to select the comments we do and do not publish.  

Once again, welcome to the blog.  Have a look around, and we hope you’ll join us as we begin our “official” posting in the very near future.

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