Monmouth County Adds Flu Clinic

The Monmouth County Health Department is offering flu shots now through late October, and has added an additional clinic to be held on Wednesday, Oct. 9.

The additional clinic will be at the Health Department offices, 3435 Highway 9 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

“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.”

At the clinic, attendees 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, United Mine Workers of America, Coventry Health Care, Cigna, United Health Care and Three Rivers Health.

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.

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 of 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. 

“Flu seasons are unpredictable in a number of ways. Although epidemics of flu happen every year, the timing, severity and length varies from one year to another,” said Michael A. Meddis, Monmouth County’s public health coordinator in the release. “We are continuing to work with state and local health partners to monitor trends throughout the flu season.”

View the entire schedule here.