For Immediate Release:

Sept. 16, 2010 

 

Monmouth County Health Department
offering seasonal flu shots to residents

 

FREEHOLD, NJ – In an effort to limit the effects of the 2010-11 seasonal flu season, the Monmouth County Health Department will be offering flu shots to county residents at 25 flu-shot clinics beginning Oct. 1. 

 

“Generally speaking, anyone over six months of age can receive the seasonal inactivated influenza vaccine,” said Freeholder Amy Mallet, liaison to the county Health Department. “We   strongly urge anyone at risk of flu-related complications to get the seasonal vaccine from the county Health Department or your health care provider.”

 

Dates, times and locations of the upcoming flu-shot sessions are available on the county’s Web site at www.visitmonmouth.com.

 

Individuals living in towns covered by the county’s Health Department can get both a flu shot and a pneumonia vaccine at a reduced rate.

 

At the clinics, residents of member towns will pay $20 for the seasonal influenza vaccine and $5 for the pneumonia vaccine. Individuals who reside in non-member towns may participate in the county clinics and receive the seasonal influenza vaccine for $30 and the pneumonia vaccine for $15.

 

As always, the vaccines are free to seniors with Medicare Part B. The county Health Department does not accept or bill insurance companies, but will provide a receipt suitable for submission to a health insurance company.

 

Residents living in the following towns are covered by the Monmouth County Health Department: Aberdeen, Allentown, Asbury Park, Atlantic Highlands, Avon, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Englishtown, Farmingdale, Hazlet, Howell, Lake Como, Manasquan, Marlboro, Matawan, Millstone, Neptune, Neptune City, Oceanport, Ocean Grove, Roosevelt and Union Beach.  

 

Individuals who should not receive the influenza vaccine are: 

·                     those with an allergy to eggs and egg proteins

·                     anyone with a previous life threatening reaction to a flu vaccine

·                     individuals with a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome 

 

Clinic participants will be screened by a registered nurse regarding risk factors and educated about the vaccine. A parent or guardian must sign a vaccine consent form for children six months to 18 years of age. Also, only individuals over 18 years of age may receive the pneumonia vaccine.

 

Influenza vaccine is also recommended for anyone who lives with or cares for people at high risk for flu-related complications, including health care providers, household contacts and caregivers of children from birth to 5 years of age, and household contacts and caregivers of people 50 years and older or with medical conditions that put them at higher risk for severe complications from influenza.

 

A yearly influenza vaccination should be considered for people who provide essential community services and people living in dormitories or under other crowded conditions.

 

 “We are actively encouraging people to get the seasonal influenza vaccine this year because we are anticipating another busy flu season,” said Michael A. Meddis, Monmouth County’s public health coordinator. “We are continuing to work with local health partners to monitor the seasonal influenza and other public health concerns.”

 

 “County residents can help reduce the spread of the seasonal flu by continuing to use some good hygiene habits,” Meddis said. “You need to be sure that you wash your hands thoroughly to protect yourself from germs and cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your sleeve when you cough or sneeze. If soap and water are not available and you are using a hand sanitizer, be sure it is at least 60 percent alcohol.”

 

For additional information, call the Monmouth County Health Department at 732-431-7456, or log onto www.visitmonmouth.com for the complete schedule.

 

2010 Monmouth County Health Dept. Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Schedule

 

Date	Time	Location
October 1	10 a.m. -1 p.m.	Marlboro –  Recreation Center, 1996 Recreation Way
October 18	11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.	Neptune City –  Community Center, 117 3rd Ave.
October 20	9:30 - 11:00 a.m.	Manasquan –  Borough Hall, 201 E Main St.
October 21	10:30 - 11:30 a.m.	Lake Como –  Municipal Building, 1740Main St.
October 21	1:30 - 3:00p.m.	Belmar –  Municipal Building 601 Main St.
October 22	1 - 2:30 p.m.	Aberdeen –  Municipal Building, 1 Aberdeen Square
October 23	11 a.m. – 3 p.m.	Asbury Park –  Sunset Park, Main & Sunset Avenues
October 25	10 a.m. - 11 a.m.	Allentown –  First Aid Building, 526 Walker Av
October 25	1 p.m. - 2:00p.m.	Millstone –  Community Center, Rte 524 & Stage Coach Rd.
October 26	9 a.m. - 12noon	Neptune Twp. –  Senior Center, 1825 Corlies Ave.
October 27	11 a.m. - 12:00noon	Avon –  Avon Firehouse, 301 Main St.
October 28	9:30 a.m. - 10:30a.m.	Union Beach –  Borough Hall, 650 Poole Ave.
October 28	11:30 - 12:30p.m.	Matawan –  Community Center, 201 Broad St.
October 29	9 a.m. - 12noon	Oceanport –  First Aid Building, 6 Pemberton Ave.
November 1	9 a.m. - 11:30a.m.	Hazlet –  Cullen Center at Veterans Memorial Park 1776 Union Ave.
November 3	1 p.m. - 3:00p.m.	*Howell –  Senior Center, Preventorium Rd.
November 3	9 a.m. - 10:00a.m.	*Howell  –  Crossroads, 720 Hwy 9 South
November 3	10:30 a.m. - 11:30a.m.	*Howell –  Friendship Gardens, 100 Friendship Rd.
November 4	9:30 a.m. - 11:30a.m.	*Howell –  Howell Villages, Hwy 9 & Wyckoff Rd.
November 4	1:30 p.m. - 3:30p.m.	*Howell –  Surrey Downs Club House, 1 Queen Ann Blvd.
November 5	9:30 - 10:30 a.m.	Atlantic Highlands –  Senior Center, Simon Lake
November 8	10 - 11a.m.	Farmingdale –  Community Center, 13 Asbury Ave.
November 9	2 p.m. - 3p.m.	Englishtown –  Municipal Building,  15 Main St.
November 10	12:30 - 1:30p.m.	Roosevelt –  Borough Hall, 33 N Rochdale Ave.
November 13	9 a.m. -12 noon	Bradley Beach –  Community Center, 719 Main St.

 

*Clinics taking place in Howell are open only to Howell residents age 60 and over and are free.

 

 

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