Get Your Flu Shot In Collingswood This Week

COLLINGSWOOD, NJ — Collingswood residents have their chance to get a flu shot on Friday. Flu shots will be administered on Friday, Oct. 13, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Senior Center, 30 West Collings Avenue in Collingswood.

“In order to keep your family healthy this flu season, we encourage you to take advantage of this beneficial service provided by Camden County,” Camden County Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Camden County Health Department, said. “Flu shots are recommended to those in high priority groups including Senior Citizens, pregnant women and chronically ill individuals.”

Flu shots are also recommended for people with weakened immune or cardiovascular systems, or with chronic metabolic diseases, renal dysfunction or blood disorders.

Children aged nine years and older must be accompanied by an adult. Children under nine need two shots, a month apart, and should be seen by a pediatrician. For uninsured children, call CamCare at 856-541-9811 or the Bellmawr Health Center at 856-931-2700.

In the United States, flu season occurs in the fall and winter. The illness typically hits its peak in January or February, but can be expected as early as October and hit as late as May. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body, so county officials recommend getting vaccinated early in the fall to help reduce the chances of getting sick before the vaccine is able to provide full protection.

Those 65 years and older, children under two, and those with weakened immune systems have a higher risk of experiencing complications from the flu. However, an annual flu shot is recommended for all residents aged six months and older by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It can sometimes be hard to tell the difference between a bad cold and the flu, but a primary care provider may be able to test patients within the first few days of symptoms in order to determine if the sickness is, in fact, the flu.

Symptoms of the flu include: 100F or higher fever or feeling feverish, cough and/or sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headaches and/or body aches, chills, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea (most common in children).

For other information, contact the county Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-999-9045, or visit www.camdencounty.com.

Patch file photo