Monmouth County H1N1 vaccine appointments Bayshore Courier News Posted:11/14/09
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The Monmouth County Health Department (MCHD) has scheduled appointment only H1N1 influenza vaccine clinics for children age 6 months to 35 months on Tuesday, Nov 17, Thursday, Nov 19 and Monday, Nov 23. Appointments are available from 4pm to 7pm.
Appointments must be made in advance by calling the MCHD at 732-431-7456. An appointment must be made for each child you are interested in receiving the vaccine. All of these clinics will be held at the Health Department's main office at 3435 Highway 9 North.
The vaccine at these clincis will be available at no charge and in an injectable form. Thimerisol-free vaccine is available.
Individuals who may not receive the H1N1 or any influenza vaccine are: Those with an allergy to eggs and egg proteins, anyone with a previous life threatening reaction to a flu vaccine and individuals with a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome.
Children brought to the clinic 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 the vaccine. Additionally, children who receive the vaccine at these clinics will require two doses of the vaccine, which should be given approximately one month apart.
The county Health Dept. encourages residents to get an H1N1 vaccine as it becomes available. The county has conducted clinics to vaccinate individuals in the highest H1N1 risk groups as defined by the CDC or the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services. The high risk group currently includes pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, children 6 months through 4 years of age, children 5 through 24 years of age who have chronic medical conditions or a weakend immune system and emergency medical services personnel.
"The MCHD continues to make the H1N1 vaccine available to people in the highest risk groups that are most susceptible to serious illness or death from the H1N1 influenza," said Michael Meddis, county public health coordinator. "As additional vaccine is produced and the county receives it, additional groups will be added."
The MCHD staff that is working with schools, hospitals and other health care providers as they continue their flu surveillance is monitoring the H1N1 influenza situation. Flu symptoms generally include cough, sore throat, fever, headache, muscle pain, chills and fatigue.
Detailed information about the H1N1 flu is available at the county website which will provide you with links to the Health Department and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention or you can call the county Health Department at 732-431-7456 or the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services at 866-321-3751.
