FREEHOLD, NJ – The busy holiday season is almost here, but it’s important to make time to protect yourself against the flu.

The Monmouth County Health Department will hold a Flu Clinic to coincide with National Influenza Vaccination Week, which is December 4-10, 2016. The clinic will take place at the Health Department Office at 3435 Route 9 North in Freehold on Tuesday, December 6 from 9 to 11 a.m. Flu shots will be available for anyone 36 months of age and older. The cost is $25, which may be covered by Medicare and some insurance.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) established National Influenza Vaccination Week in 2005 to highlight the importance of continuing flu vaccination through the holiday season and beyond. The flu can be a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death, and the CDC recommends that everyone six months and older be vaccinated against the flu annually.

“There are three basic everyday actions that we can all use to protect ourselves and our loved ones from getting the flu,” said Freeholder John P. Curley, liaison to the Monmouth County Health Department. “Cover your cough, wash your hands and stay home if you are sick are best ways to avoid getting and spreading the flu and many other illnesses.”

Influenza symptoms include cough, sore throat, headache, muscle pain, chills and fatigue. A fever may or may not be a symptom of the flu. According to the CDC, most people with the flu have mild illness and do not need medical care or antiviral drugs. If, however, you have symptoms of flu and are in a high risk group, or are very sick or worried about your illness, contact your health care provider. For information about high risk groups, visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov.

The Monmouth County Health Department recommends that all residents avoid close contact with people who are sick. If you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick, too, and stay home when you are sick. Most importantly, wash your hands to protect yourself from germs and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.

Another flu shot clinic will be held on Monday, Dec. 19 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Health Department Office at 3435 Route 9 North in Freehold. This clinic will be held in conjunction with the monthly eye screening clinic. The free eye examination will check for eye health, visual acuity and glaucoma for ages 3 and older.

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

The Monmouth County Health Department provides public health services for residents of the following towns: Aberdeen, Allentown, Asbury Park, Atlantic Highlands, Avon, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Englishtown, Eatontown, Farmingdale, Hazlet, Holmdel, Howell, Keyport, Lake Como, Manasquan, Marlboro, Matawan, Millstone, Neptune Township, Neptune City, Oceanport, Ocean Grove, Roosevelt, Shrewsbury Township and Union Beach.

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