Public Health

Schenectady County Public Health Services (SCPHS) supports, protects and improves the health of our community.

Community Health Needs Assessment

The Community Health Needs Assessment is a comprehensive assessment of the public health needs of the Capital Region and provides a broad array of health information useful in monitoring community health.

View the 2022 Capital Region CHNA

Polio

Resources:

NYS Department of Health

Polio Vaccination Rates by Zip Code

Tickborne Illness

SCPHS launched a new Tickborne illness Prevention Dashboard to raise awareness and educate residents on the prevalence of ticks and tickborne illnesses within the County. The dashboard also includes prevention information, tick data collected by the NYS Department of Health and a link to an EPA-registered repellents search tool.
View Dashboard

Request a Free Tick Kit

A limited number of free tick kits are available through SCPHS. 

To request a kit, call (518) 386-2810.

Benefits of Flu Vaccination

The flu vaccination is key in aiding in protecting you, your family, and neighbors from the serious, even life-threatening, complications of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Benefits of Flu Vaccination:*

• It can keep you from getting sick with the flu;
• It can reduce the severity of illness in people who get vaccinated but still get sick; 
• It can reduce the risk of having to go to the doctor with flu;
• It can significantly reduce a child's risk of dying from the flu; and
• Getting vaccinated yourself can also protect people around you, including those who are most vulnerable to serious flu illness, including babies and young children, older people and those with certain chronic health conditions.
   

*Source: CDC

Who Should get a Flu Vaccination?

Schenectady County Public Health Services (SCPHS) encourages all residents, particularly those working with the public, to receive the flu vaccine. The CDC recommends the seasonal flu vaccine for everyone six months or older, especially those individuals who are: 

• Pregnant;
• Children 6 months to 18 years of age;
• Adults 50 years of age or older;
• Individuals with health conditions that put them at risk of complications from flu; and
• Healthcare workers.

Where Can I get a Flu Vaccination?

Flu shots are available at low- or no-cost from many area pharmacists and medical offices. Contact your doctor or locate a participating pharmacy near you by using the vaccine finder.  Click here for the Vaccine Finder