FLU VACCINE

The Kinnelon Health Department will be having the Flu Clinic at the Borough Hall from 4 PM – 7 PM on a date not decided yet.  No pre-registration and the doors will be closed at 6:45 PM.  The cost is $15.00 or Part B Medicare.  You must bring your Medicare Card with you.
 
Seasonal Flu causes 36,000 deaths and 200,000 hospitalizations each year in the U.S. The seasonal flu vaccine is the most effective way residents can protect themselves from the virus.

Please remember seasonal flu is different from the novel H1N1 (swine) virus.The seasonal influenza vaccine has 3 strain components which will give NO protection against swine flu.

Your Health Department is closely monitoring all developments as they relate to the H1N1 virus,and is preparing to protect our community by:
     ..Providing the H1N1 Vaccine: The CDC is currently expecting the vaccine to be ready in October, and H1N1 flu shot clinics will be scheduled shortly thereafter.
     ..Monitoring School Absenteeism Rates: This will allow the Health Department to know the prevalence of the Influenza-like illness in our area.
      ..Keeping You Informed: The Health Department will provide website updates, public service announcements, and press releases as information changes or becomes available.

In the meantime, for the most up to date flu information, please visit www.cdc.gov/flu
  

Kinnelon residents are now eligible to receive your flu vaccine at the towns listed below. 
 
Little Falls
Riverdale
Florham Park                                      See dates and time below
Pequannock
Bloomingdale 
                                                                                                                        

WHAT IS INFLUENZA?

Influenza is a viral illness affecting the nose, throat, and lungs of people of any age.  Influenza is highly contagious symptoms that include fever, chills, headache, sore throat, dry cough, runny nose and body aches.  It is spread by infected person or through contact with the “airborne” virus in crowed places such as theaters, stores and buses, with flu soon after being exposed to it, usually 1 to 3 days.  The vaccine is safe and effective – it cannot cause influenza. 

Influenza can be life threatening to high-risk populations including the elderly, those who are chronically ill or residents in nursing homes, people with other lung diseases including asthma, and health care workers serving high-risk populations. 

¨      VACCINATION OF CHILDREN

Children’s Vaccine (Fluvirin) can only be given to children 4 years of age and above at risk for getting a serious case of influenza or influenza complications, and people in close contact with them (including all household members), should get the vaccine.  The following are other conditions indicating children should get a flu vaccination. 

§         Children who have chronic disorders of the pulmonary or cardiovascular system including asthma.

§         Children who required regular medical follow-up or hospitalization during preceding year because of chronic metabolic diseases (including diabetes mellitus).  Children receiving long-term aspirin therapy and therefore might be at risk for developing Rye’s Syndrome after influenza infection. 

§         Well children with none of the above factors will not be eligible for a flu vaccine at the Kinnelon Health Department. 

§         For children 6 months through 4 years of age, there is a vaccine available for you.  Please speak with your Pediatrician. 

¨      HOW DO I PROTECT MYSELF AGAINIST THE FLU?

How do I protect myself against the flu?  Getting the flu shop before flu season stars is the best way to protect your yourself.  A new flu vaccine is made each year because the flu virus tends to change each flu season.  For this reason it is necessary to get a flu shot every year.  To give your body time to build the proper defense, it is important to get the flu shot from September through November before flu season starts.

Are there any side effects of flu vaccine? Some people may notice a little redness, tenderness or swelling where the shot was given. Although side effects from flu shots are slight for most people, there may be brief, low-grade fever and some minoe aches and pains. You cannot get flu from the flu shot. 

Flu Season Is on It’s Way

While our Health Department routinely provides vaccinations through annual clinics, we advise that residents should contact their primary care provider as their first choice for flu shots, especially in the case of children below nine years of age.  Public Health department flu vaccine programs are meant to be supplemental, generally immunizing only a portion of the population and relying on private providers to cover the majority of their own patients.  We suggest that residents contact their providers now so that physicians can accurately gauge how many patients will be seeking vaccine at their offices this fall. Health department community vaccination programs are, for the most part, intended to accommodate the adult population. Should Health Care Providers not ensure sufficient supplies for their practices the Health Department by itself will not have on hand enough vaccine to accommodate all targeted populations, especially children below nine years of age.

As we move on to the 2010 season with an updated vaccine, Kinnelon Health Department encourages residents to take a pro-active role in preparing for immunization for the upcoming influenza season.  We urge residents, especially those at high risk, to act sooner rather than later.  Your provider can assess your risk level should it become necessary to restrict vaccine to prioritized groups. Although we are not anticipating a repeat of last year’s dilemma, experience suggests that pro-active patients can help the Kinnelon Health Department and healthcare providers meet the needs of our community as a joint effort

Who Should Get Inactivated Influenza Vaccine?

Influenza vaccine can be given to people 6 months of age and older.   It is recommended for people who are at risk of serious influenza or its complications, and for people who can spread influenza to those at high risk (including all household members):

People at high risk for complications from influenza:

-                      All children 6-23 months of age

-                      People 65 years of age and older

-                      Residents of long-term care facilities housing persons with chronic medical conditions

-                      Household contacts and out-of-home caretakers of infants from 0-23 months of age

-                      People who have long-term health problems with heart disease, lung disease, asthma, kidney disease, metabolic disease (such as diabetes), anemia or other blood disorders

-                      People with certain conditions (such as neuromuscular disorders) that can cause breathing problems

-                      People with a weakened immune system due to HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system, long-term treatment with drugs such as steroids, or cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs

-                      People 6 months to 18 years of age on long-term aspirin treatment (these people could develop Reye Syndrome if they got influenza)

-                      Women who will be pregnant during influenza season

People who can spread influenza to those at high risk:

-                      Household contacts and out-of –home caretakers of infants from 0-23 months of age.

-                      Physicians, nurses, family members, or anyone else in close contact with people at risk of serious influenza

Influenza vaccine is also recommended for adults 50-64 years of age and anyone else who wants to reduce their chance of catching influenza

For more information visit the CDC websites at http://www.cdc.gov/nip/fluor www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/flu/fluvirus.htm.    Ask your health care provider or call the CDC Immunization Hot Line (English: 1-800-232-2522; Espanola: 1-800-232-0233)

The best time to get a flu shot is in October or November.   But because the flu season peaks from December through March (most often in February), vaccination in December, or even later can be beneficial.  Flu vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines, including pneumococcal vaccine.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

-         Private providers should see children under 9 years old getting a flu shot for the first time because they need 2 shots, one month apart. (Children in this age group who got one dose the previous year, even if it was the first time they got the vaccine, need only one dose this year.)

-         Vaccine used at many clinics cannot be used for children under 4 years of age. These children should be seen by private providers who have the type of vaccine appropriate for this age group.

-         Check to see if your provider plans to set aside office time specifically for a convenient mini flu clinic for patients.  (Flu shots are generally covered by insurance in the doctor’s office.)

-         Check a website such as www.Findaflushot.com or call a customer service number such as 1-800-SHOP CVS to locate public clinics.  Check the public access cable channel for announcements.

-         FluMist, influenza virus vaccine live, intranasal, may be more widely available this year.  This live intranasal vaccine is more likely to be given by the private provider while mass immunization clinics generally administer only the inactivated injection. FluMist is indicated for active immunization for the prevention of disease caused by influenza A and B viruses in healthy children and adolescents, 5-17 years of age, and healthy adults, 18-49 years of age.  Check with your provider to see if you might be a candidate.

Kinnelon  Health Department Flu Clinics

$15  (Free with Primary Medicare B)

Clinic criteria:

-         Must be resident of Pequannock, Bloomingdale, Kinnelon, Riverdale, Florham Park or Little Falls

-         All adults

-         Children with chronic illness age 9-18 years with a doctor’s note

-         Children with chronic illness age 4-9 years with a doctor’s note may be eligible only if they have received a flu shot prior to this year

-         Any eligible child receiving vaccine must be accompanied by a parent or guardian

-         Note: Only inactivated influenza vaccine is administered at these clinics.

Thursday	Oct. 15	330 p.m. - 630 p.m.	Court house	Little Falls
Wednesday	Oct. 21	4 p.m. - 7 p.m.	Senior Center	Riverdale
Wednesday	Nov 4	430  p.m. - 730 p.m.	Peq HS	Pequannock
Thursday	Oct 8	4 p.m. - 7 p.m.	Firehouse	Bloomingdale
Thursday	Oct 1st	4 p.m. - 7 p.m.	Boro Hall	Kinnelon

    
                                  
For more information please call the Kinnelon Health Department  973-838-5403 X 5