Tagged: flu

New rules are being rolled out at Albany Medical Center, St. Peter's Health Partners, Ellis Medicine, Saratoga Hospital and Glens Falls Hospital, to further protect patients from influenza and other infectious diseases. Implementation of the new guidelines began Friday at some of the hospitals and start Monday at others.

BOSTON (AP) - State officials are offering reassurances that there is plenty of vaccine still available for people who are still looking to get a flu shot.

Interim public health commissioner Lauren Smith said Thursday the state has distributed 760,000 doses of vaccine so far this season, and there remains ample supply. She said officials are working with local boards of health that are looking to open public clinics to meet the demand for flu shots.

Officials say there have been 6,000 laboratory confirmed cases of flu in Massachusetts and 18 flu-related deaths.

Baystate Health  has put new visitor policies in place at its three hospitals in Springfield, Greenfield and Ware.  Patients can have no more than 2 visitors at a time and none  under the age of 14. Patients are asked to come alone to doctor’s appointments.   Dr. Sarah Haessler, an infectious disease specialist at Baystate said the last time these precautions were taken was during the flu pandemic in 2009.