Public Employee Press

Get a free flu shot at union headquarters

DC 37 members are eligible for free flu shots under a new city-union program. The DC 37 Flu Shot Program resulted from an agreement between the city and the Municipal Labor Committee, which represents public employee unions on health-care matters.

DC 37 has scheduled the flu shots to coincide with the Sept. 24 and Oct. 27 delegates meetings at union headquarters at 125 Barclay St. in Lower Manhattan. The injections will be administered from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The union plans to administer 150 shots at the September meeting and 100 at the October meeting. The number of shots will be adjusted according to demand. To receive a vaccination, you must register at https://www.apschedule.com/nycflu.

DC 37 city employees who attend the delegates meetings must present their city identification card or badge in order to receive the shot.

While most flu activity occurs from October to May in the United States, flu viruses are detected year-round, including at lower levels during the summer months, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Early antiviral treatment works best, so health-care experts recommend people get their flu shot in the fall.

"The shot doesn't guarantee that you won't get the flu, but it significantly reduces the possibility that you will come down the illness," said DC 37 Health and Security Plan Administrator Willie Chang, who represents the union on the MLC's health benefits subcommittee and helped establish the new program.

"It's a good idea to try to avoid a week or two of misery," Chang said.