Healthy Neighborhoods Program works to prevent or reduce: tobacco use, asthma hospitalizations, home fire deaths, indoor air contaminants, and childhood lead poisoning. 

Residents must live in 14621 South, North Marketview Heights, or Beechwood neighborhood to participate. Participants can receive free smoke detectors, smoke detector batteries, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers, cleaning supplies, and educational materials.

The process starts with a home visit. Call 753- 5070 (English) or 753-5073 (Spanish) or Click Here for further information.

Gardasil -- the HPV vaccine -- is the first vaccine developed to prevent cervical cancer, precancerous genital lesions, and genital warts caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). This safe and effective vaccine provides protection against several types of HPV that cause 70% of cervical cancer. A federal immunization advisory committee recommends routine HPV vaccination for girls 11-12 years of age. The vaccine is also recommended for girls and women 13-26 years of age, if they did not receive it when they were younger.

HPV vaccine is given in a series of 3 shots over a 6 month period. The vaccine is available at our Immunization Clinic, located at 111 Westfall Road, every Wednesday from 12 Noon - 7 p.m. There is no charge for children up to 18 years of age. There are charges for adults.

For more information, please call the Immunization Program @ 753-5150 or click on this story.

Shingles, called herpes zoster, is a painful skin rash caused by varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays in the body. Usually the virus does not cause any problems, but it can appear years later, causing shingles. 

Zostavax is the first vaccine to prevent shingles.The vaccine is recommended for adults 60 and older regardless of whether or not they have ever had shingles. The vaccine is available at our Immunization Clinic, located at 111 Westfall Road, every Thursday morning from 9-12 (NOTE: only shingles vaccine is administered during this time) or in our general Pediatric and Adult clinic every Wednesday from 12-7. No appointment is necessary. There is a charge for this vaccine. Some health insurance plans reimburse their members for the cost of the vaccine.

For more information about the shingles vaccine, call the Immunization Program @ 753-5150 or click here.

Artificial trans fat is made when hydrogen is added to an otherwise healthful liquid vegetable oil to make a semi-solid product called partially hydrogenated vegetable oil.  Trans fat, like saturated fat, increases the risk of heart disease by raising “bad” cholesterol. While foods purchased at supermarkets are labeled and consumers have a choice, foods served in restaurants and schools are not labeled. Trans fat oils are commonly used for frying, cooking and baking.

The Health Department, American Heart Association, NYS Restaurant Association and the Monroe County School Boards Association have asked local restaurants and schools to voluntarily phase-out the use of artificial trans fat.

Click here for more details.

Antibiotics are drugs that fight infections caused by bacteria. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change in some way that reduces or eliminates the drug's effectiveness, and results in the bacteria's ability to survive and multiply. This resistance is considered by many to be a pressing public health problem.

Healthcare providers, often to the dismay of patients, only prescribe antibiotics when they are likely to benefit the patient. Patients are encouraged to discuss with their provider what steps they can take to feel better if antibiotics are not indicated. 

Click HERE to learn more about antibiotic resistance.