Ocean County Rolls Out Flu Shot Schedule For Fall

Karen Wall
·6 min read

TOMS RIVER, NJ — As the state continues its efforts to keep a lid on the spread of the coronavirus, the Ocean County Health Department is rolling out its flu vaccination schedule for the fall. And county officials are urging residents to take advantage of them.

"While it is still unclear exactly what will happen this fall and winter, when there will be COVID-19 and flu at the same time, it could place a tremendous burden on our health care systems," the health department said in its message announcing the schedule.

"That’s why the Ocean County Health Department is urging everyone to do their part to help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses, like flu and COVID-19. Getting a flu shot, continuing to follow social distancing measures and wearing a mask will help in mitigating the spread of both viruses," the message said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year the flu causes millions of illnesses and hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations. Preliminary data suggests there were estimated 24,000-62,000 flu deaths for the 2019-20 influenza season in the United States.

"The influenza vaccine will not protect against COVID-19, but it does have important benefits," Freeholder Gerry P. Little said. "Getting a flu shot can lower your risk of getting sick, being hospitalized or dying from flu. If you’ve never had a flu shot, this is certainly the year to visit one of our clinics and to get one especially with COVID-19 being another potentially deadly respiratory illness."

The county will hold its 2020 Influenza & Pneumonia Clinic at sites all over the county. The complete schedule is below.

"Getting a flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from flu this fall and winter," said Daniel Regenye, the county's public health coordinator/health officer. "The more people vaccinated, the more people protected. Getting a flu vaccine is something everyone can do to reduce the impact of flu. It not only will protect yourself and your community, but it will protect the medical providers on the frontlines who will continue to deal with COVID-19 and flu patients."

The following is a list of flu facts to keep in mind.

  • All people 6 months of age and older should get vaccinated against seasonal flu every year.

  • Children younger than 6 months are at high-risk of serious flu illness but are too young to be vaccinated. People who care for them should be vaccinated instead.

  • Vaccination is especially important for pregnant women and people with chronic diseases.

  • The flu vaccine protects against several different flu viruses (strains). Flu vaccines are updated every year to better match the viruses circulating in the public.

  • Getting the flu vaccine cannot give you the flu! The vaccine is made with inactive (killed) virus strains which are not infectious.

The flu vaccine will be extremely important this season since hospitals, clinics, and doctors’ offices are likely to be busy caring for COVID-19 patients. Getting a flu vaccine will:

  • Help conserve medical resources needed for care of COVID-19 patients.

  • Help protect frontline health care and other essential workers.

  • A flu vaccine is an easy way to help "flatten the curve" of flu illness.

The county's flu and pneumonia vaccinations will be held at sites around the county.

The influenza vaccinations are with no out-of-pocket expense to all Ocean County residents age 6 months or older; pneumonia vaccinations will be available as well at each location.

Residents under the age 65 who want a pneumonia vaccination will need a prescription.

Appointments are required for each person receiving vaccinations. They can be made online at the Ocean County Health Department website.

OCTOBER

  • Oct. 15: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Jackson Township Senior Center, 45 Don Connor Blvd., Jackson

  • Oct. 17: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Toms River High School North gymnasium, 1245 Old Freehold Road, Toms River

  • Oct. 20: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Brick Senior Center/VFW Post 8867, 373 Adamston Road, Brick

  • Oct. 22: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Ocean County Fire and EMS Training Center, 200 Volunteer Way, Waretown

  • Oct. 27: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Edward Thornton Community Center, 319 West Calabreeze Way, Little Egg Harbor

  • Oct. 29: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Stafford Recreation Center, 25 Pine St., Manahawkin

NOVEMBER

  • Nov. 5: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Forked River Columbian Club, 15 East Lacey Road, Forked River

  • Nov. 7: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Ocean County Fire and EMS Training Center, 200 Volunteer Way, Waretown

  • Nov. 10: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Jackson Township Senior Center, 45 Don Connor Blvd., Jackson

  • Nov. 12: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Stafford Recreation Center, 25 Pine St., Manahawkin

  • Nov. 17: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Edward Thornton Community Center, 319 West Calabreeze Way, Little Egg Harbor

  • Nov. 19: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Brick Senior Center/VFW Post 8867, 373 Adamston Road, Brick

  • Nov. 21: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., RWJ Barnabas Health Arena, 1245 Old Freehold Road, Toms River

  • Nov. 23: 1 p.m.-5 p.m., Ocean County Fire and EMS Training Center, 200 Volunteer Way, Waretown

DECEMBER

  • Dec. 1: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Forked River Columbian Club, 15 East Lacey Road, Forked River

  • Dec. 3: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Berkeley Township (TBD)

  • Dec. 5: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., RWJ Barnabas Health Arena, 1245 Old Freehold Road, Toms River

  • Dec. 8: 2 p.m.-6 p.m., Edward Thornton Community Center, 319 West Calabreeze Way, Little Egg Harbor

  • Dec. 10: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Ocean County Fire and EMS Training Center, 200 Volunteer Way, Waretown

  • Dec. 15: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Jackson Township Senior Center, 45 Don Connor Blvd., Jackson

  • Dec. 17: 4 p.m.-7 p.m., County Connection at the Ocean County Mall, 1201 Hooper Ave., Toms River

The health department is also providing a general COVID-19 Information Call Hot Line for residents and clinicians to answer questions regarding the coronavirus or flu. The number is 732-341-9700 or (800)342-9738 ext. 7411. Download a vaccine information statement at www.CDC.Gov/Vaccines/hcp/vis.

The NJDOH (NJPIES) hotline is available for questions around the clock at 1-800-222-1222 or by dialing 2-1-1. Other related sources; for medical COVID-19 questions call 1-800-962-1253 or Text NJCOVID to 898211 to receive alerts.

Click here to get Patch email notifications, or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app. Download here. Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com Follow Brick Patch on Facebook.

This article originally appeared on the Manchester Patch