For Immediate Release:
September 7, 2012  

 Health Department offering flu
shots to residents

FREEHOLD, NJ – The Monmouth County Health Department is offering flu shots to county residents at 22 flu-shot clinics now through late October.  

“Generally speaking, anyone over six months of age can receive the seasonal inactivated influenza vaccine,” said Freeholder Director John P. Curley, liaison to the 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 clinics are available on the Health Department section of the county’s Web site at www.visitmonmouth.com.

At the clinics, Monmouth County residents will pay $25 for the seasonal influenza vaccine. The vaccines are free to seniors with Medicare Part B. Accepted insurance companies are Aetna, Humana, Medicare RR and United Mine Workers of America. The county Health Department does not accept or bill other insurance companies, but the Health Department staff will provide a receipt suitable for submission to a health insurance company.

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

Vaccination to prevent influenza is particularly important for people who are at increased risk for severe complications from the flu. People in the high-risk groups include:

  • all children 6 months of age to 4 years;
  • people 50 years and older;
  • adults and children who have chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular, kidney, liver, neurological or metabolic disorders (including diabetes);
  • people with compromised immune systems;
  • women who are or will be pregnant during the flu season;
  • children 6 months to 18 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy;
  • residents of long-term care facilities;
  • people who are morbidly obese;
  • household contacts and caregivers of children less than 5, and
  • adults age 50 and above.
A yearly influenza vaccination should be considered for people who provide essential community services and people living in dormitories or under other crowded conditions.
 
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, or  
  • individuals with a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome. 
“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.

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. 

#     #     #

2012 Monmouth County Health Dept. Seasonal
Influenza Vaccine Schedule  

Date                Time                                  Location  

Sept. 11           10 a.m. - noon                  Keyport

                                                              Senior Center

                                                              110 Second Street

Sept. 14           10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.     Manasquan

                                                              Borough Hall

                                                             201 East Main Street

Sept. 19           noon – 1 p.m.                 Avon-By-The-Sea

                                                             Firehouse

                                                            301 Main Street

Sept. 21          10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.        Belmar

                                                             Municipal Building

                                                             601 Main Street

Sept. 26           10 a.m. - noon                 Ocean Grove

                                                             Francis Asbury Manor

                                                             70 Stockton Avenue

                       1:30 pm. – 2:30 p.m.        Lake Como

                                                             Borough Hall

                                                             1740 Main Street

Sept. 27           10 a.m. – 11 a.m.            Englishtown

                                                             Municipal Building

                                                             15 Main Street

                        1 p.m. – 2 p.m.              Millstone

                                                             Community Center

                                                             Route 524 & Stagecoach Road

Sept. 28           10 a.m. – 1 p.m.             Marlboro

                                                             Recreation Center

                                                             1996 Recreation Way

Oct. 2               9 a.m. - noon                 Oceanport

                                                             First Aid Building

                                                              6 Pemberton Avenue

Oct. 3               10 a.m. – 11 a.m.           Farmingdale

                                                             Community Center

                                                             13 Asbury Avenue

                        1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.      Atlantic Highlands

                                                             Senior Center

                                                             Simon Lake

Oct. 5               9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.    Union Beach

                                                              Borough Hall

                                                              650 Poole Avenue

Oct. 9               10 a.m. - noon              Hazlet

                                                            Cullen Center

                                                            Memorial Park

                                                            1776 Union Avenue

                        1 p.m. – 3 p.m.             Aberdeen

                                                            Municipal Building

                                                            1 Aberdeen Square

Oct. 10             9 a.m. – noon                Neptune Twp.

                                                             Senior Center

                                                             1607 Corlies Avenue

Oct. 11             1 p.m. – 3 p.m.              Howell*

                                                             Senior Center

                                                             245 Preventorium Road

Oct. 15             10 a.m. – 11 a.m.          Shrewsbury Twp.

                                                             Community Center

                                                             1979 Crawford Street

Oct. 16             1 p.m. – 2 p.m.              Neptune City

                                                             Community Center

                                                            117 Third Avenue

Oct. 17             9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.     Howell*

                                                              Howell Villages

                                                              Highway 9 & Wyckoff Road

                        1 p.m. – 3 p.m.              Howell*

                                                             Surrey Downs Clubhouse

                                                             1 Queen Anne Boulevard

Oct. 18             10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.     Matawan

                                                               Community Center

                                                              201 Broad Street         

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

#     #     #