Have questions about swine flu or vaccine safety?
Cape Ann residents can get answers at two H1N1 community forums, one in Gloucester and the other in Manchester.
"Influenza vaccination is the most effective method for preventing influenza and influenza-related complications," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Both seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines should be available in Massachusetts during the fall and winter of 2009.
The Gloucester forum, hosted by the Cape Ann Emergency Planning Team and Cape Ann towns' health departments, will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Kyrouz Auditorium at Gloucester City Hall, 9 Dale Ave.
The panel of experts at this informational forum on H1N1 and vaccine safety are pediatrician Dr. Brian Orr of Cape Ann Pediatricians; Wanda Visnick, school nurse leader, Rockport public schools; registered nurse Chassea Robinson of the Gloucester Health Department; and Dr. Candace Thompson, who specializes in Internal Medicine at Cape Ann Medical.
The forum will be moderated by state Sen. Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester.
For more information about this event, call 978-281-9771.
A similar forum will be held in Manchester from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Manchester Essex Regional Middle and High School auditorium.
Answering questions at this event, hosted by Manchester Essex Regional School District, will be school physician Dr. Suzanne Graves of Garden City Pediatrics; emergency physician Dr. James Takayesu of Massachusetts General Hospital; Kim Paskalis of the Essex Board of Health; and Manchester Essex Regional Schools' nurses, Cyndi Aldrich, Joanne Seaman and Donna Smith.
Smith said questions may also be e-mailed in advance to her at smithd@mersd.org.
More information about the flu and vaccine safety is available by visiting www.flu.gov.
Andrea Holbrook may be contacted at aholbrook@gloucestertimes.com.
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