Health

HEALTH DEPARTMENT OFFERS FREE RABIES SHOTS FOR CATS, DOGS, AND FERRETS ON SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 2022

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BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

NEW CITY, NY, – Rockland County Executive Ed Day and County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert announce free rabies shots (vaccinations) are available for cats, dogs, and ferrets belonging to Rockland residents by appointment only on Sunday, June 26, 2022, from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm at the Robert Yeager Health Complex, 50 Sanatorium Road in Pomona (Follow the complex signs for Building D).  An appointment is required for each animal. The shots are free; however, a $5 donation per animal will help defray our costs.

To register for an appointment, please visit http://rcklnd.us/rabiesvax. For assistance making an appointment, call (845) 364-2656. Please check Facebook.com/rocklandgov for any cancellations before arrival.

“Animal rabies continues to be a public health concern in New York State. We remind all Rockland County residents to make sure that their animals are immunized against rabies and that the vaccinations are kept up-to-date,” said Dr. Ruppert.

To get their free rabies shot:

  • Your dog, cat, or ferret must be healthy.
  • Your pet must be older than three months.
  • Your dogs must be on a leash.
  • Your cats and ferrets must be on a leash or in a top-opening container.

New York State law requires that all dogs, cats, and domesticated ferrets be vaccinated against rabies by four months of age. Owners can be fined up to $250 if they fail to get their pets vaccinated and keep them up-to-date. All animal bites and animals suspected of having rabies must be reported to The Rockland County Health Department at (845) 364-2656. After hours, callers should contact the sheriff at (845) 364-8600.

“No one wants their beloved pets to get sick with anything, especially if it’s preventable with vaccinations. Please take advantage of this opportunity to get your dog, cat, or ferret vaccinated against rabies to protect them and the other members of your family from this disease,” said County Executive Day.

For more information on animal rabies or the rabies vaccine, call the Rockland County Department of Health at (845) 364-2656 or visit our website: http://rocklandgov.com/departments/health/environmental-health/rabies/. 

NYSDOH Updates COVID-19 Quarantine Guidance

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New City, NY, – The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has updated the COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine Guidance as of May 31, 2022. Under the updated guidance, you are considered up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines when you have received all doses in the primary series and all boosters recommended for you by the CDC, as determined by your age and health status. NYS continues to experience COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. The purpose of this new guidance is to keep people healthy and to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Anyone who is not up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations must quarantine for 5 days after close contact with someone with COVID-19, according to NYSDOH guidance. That includes:

  • Anyone who is not vaccinated or has not completed a primary vaccine series.
  • Anyone ages 5 or older who has completed the primary series of recommended vaccine, and is eligible for a CDC recommended booster shot, but has not received it. You are eligible 5 months after your primary series.
  • ** NEW ** Anyone ages 50 years and older or are immunocompromised, a second booster is recommended and is needed to stay up to date. You are eligible 4 months after your first booster.

You are considered up to date 2-weeks after your primary series if you are not eligible for a booster. You are considered up to date immediately after your booster dose(s).

There is an exemption related to quarantine and isolation for children’s attendance in childcare and school programs (K-12) and early childhood education settings. You do not need to quarantine if you have had a confirmed COVID-19 in the last 90 days.

For more information on the New York State Isolation and Quarantine Guidance and exemptions visit: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/isolation-quarantine.

The CDC has a tool to help you determine whether you should get a booster, available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html.

“If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you must follow the NYS Isolation Guidance. If you are not up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines, you must follow the updated NYS Quarantine Guidance if you have been exposed to COVID-19. Everyone’s cooperation with the guidance is needed to curb the spread of the disease and prevent further disability and death among our neighbors,” said County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert.

To help lessen the spread of COVID-19, continue to follow other COVID-19 prevention measures. Visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html.

To get a COVID-19 vaccine or booster, visit the RCDOH COVID-19 webpage for appointments and information at http://rcklnd.us/covid19. To find a vaccine near you, visit https://www.vaccines.gov/, and the New York State (NYS) Am I Eligible webpage.

“We’ve come a long way and are much better protected against COVID-19 than ever before. I encourage and trust that Rockland residents will make the decision they feel is most appropriate to protect themselves, their families, and our community,” said County Executive Ed Day.

If you have COVID-19 questions contact the Rockland County COVID-19 Call Center at 845-238-1956 or email COVIDCALLCENTER@co.rockland.ny.us. You can also visit the county’s COVID-19 webpage at http://rocklandgov.com/departments/health/coronavirus-covid-19/ or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rockhealth or Twitter at www.twitter.com/rockhealth for more information. 

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