Date: Fri 12-Feb-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Lyme-Disease-Cooper

Full Text:

Health District Considers Lyme Vaccine For Some Town Employees

BY BY JAN HOWARD

The Newtown District Department of Health is considering a program that would

provide Lyme disease immunizations for town employees who would be at risk of

contact with a tick that carries the disease.

Health Director Mark Cooper said Tuesday he has written to First Selectman

Herbert Rosenthal regarding how the program would be funded, and he asked if

the proposed immunizations would be covered under the town's insurance. He

said he expects to have an answer by the time of the Health District's next

board of directors meeting.

"They are evaluating it," he said.

Mr Cooper has also contacted the Connecticut Council of Municipalities (CCM)

for information about what other communities are doing in regard to

immunization of their workers and to see if there is any statewide policy

regarding immunization against Lyme disease.

Mr Cooper said no action was required by the board of directors at this time.

"It's a pretty good idea to do it," Board of Directors Chairman James Smith

said.

If the program is implemented, Mr Cooper said the immunizations would be

offered to employees in the highway, health, parks & recreation, police, and

conservation departments.

"It would take care of high risk people," he said.

The immunizations would be given in a series of three doses, an initial

immunization, one at three months and a final one after six months. An annual

booster would be required.

Mr Cooper said employees in those departments would have the right to refuse

the immunization. However, he said, cases of Lyme disease are increasing.

Mr Cooper said there have been increases in laboratory reports from the state

Department of Health regarding Lyme disease. He said the higher figures are

the result of an increase in ticks sent out for analysis and doctors being

more aware of the disease.

In other business, the health district is in the process of seeking a $27,000

grant from the state to participate in a water supply study, which would look

at well locations for yield and quality in comparison to bedrock geology.

Mr Cooper said the study would give the district a better understanding of the

nature of bedrock aquifers, the effect on well water quality and quantity, and

ultimately improve land use planning.