Watertown’s New Director of Public Health Has Private and Public Experience

Watertown’s new director of Public Health comes to town with experience working in the public and private sectors. Deborah M. Rosati began her new post on Feb. 23 after working 11 years in quality assurance/food safety with Legal Sea Foods including as the quality assurance officer since November 2008. She also has plenty of experience working in municipal health departments. From 1989-2003 she worked as director of public health in Wayland, Everett, Lowell and Saugus.

Learn How to Deal with Stress at a Free Presentation

Learn about stress and stress management wit a free lecture presented by the Watertown Health Department. Public Health Nurse Wil van Dinter, RN will discuss some of the most common causes of stress, such as work, finances, taking care of an ill family member, chronic illness and emotional struggles. The lecture will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 6 at the Watertown Mall, 550 Arsenal St. in Watertown.

Don’t Miss Your Last Chance to Get a Flu Shot!

The Watertown Health Department is offering one last flu clinic for residents. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that this flu season will be more severe that recent years, according to the Watertown Health Department. “While earlier reports from the CDC indicates that the flu vaccine is less effective this year, it still decreases the severity of the flu and recommend people, especially those with chronic health issues to get vaccinated,” said Watertown Public Health Nurse Wil van Dinter. The Watertown Health Department scheduled an additional Free Public Flu and Pneumonia Clinic at the Watertown Free Public Library on Wednesday, Jan. 14 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

One of the best ways to try to avoid the flu is good hygiene, van Dinter said. “Wash your hands often with soap and water; avoid touching your nose, mouth or eyes; and practice cough etiquette by coughing or sneezing into your arm, not your hands,” he said.

Watertown Health Department Holding Medical Sharps Collection

Watertown residents can bring household medical sharps, such as needles and lancets, to Town Hall on Saturday to dispose of them. The collection will take place on Saturday, Jan. 10 from 9 a.m. to noon  in the rear parking lot of Watertown Town Hall, 149 Main St. Watertown residents may bring the following:

Used Needles, syringes, and lancets, stored in sturdy puncture proof containers
Unused capped needles, syringes and lancets in original packaging
Sharps containers. No Medical Waste or Commercial sharps will be accepted. Proof of Watertown residency is required.