With July Heat, Vacations Trump Vaccinations

The first Wednesday of each month, the Montville health department holds its child health conference, which is a free program providing vaccinations and check-ups to qualified children ranging in age from newborn to 18. 

With the current heat wave and the summer vacation season, however, the number of scheduled participants for July 7 was down sharply.

"July is a slow month," said Maryann Galiger, public health nurse and coordinator of the monthly program.  "It's summer.  Many people are on vacation."

According to Galiger, several appointments have already been made for Aug. 4, because, as the beginning of the school year approaches, parents prepare children for the classroom by updating immunizations.

"There are many ways children come to us," she said.  "Sometimes we see school-age children in need of mandated immunizations, and sometimes we see newborns whose families are without insurance. Many children regularly see our certified pediatrician. Some of these children we have known since birth."

A written description of the conference, issued by the health department, states that services provided by the pediatrician and public health nurses include physicals, immunizations for everything from Polio and Measles to Hepatitis B and other required vaccinations.

The conference is held the first Wednesday of each month from 9 to 11 a.m.  at the township municipal building. Appointments are highly recommended, but, according to Galiger, exceptions can be made.

"If children come to us through the conference without appointments, we will obviously do our best to help," she said.  "We won't turn them away.  However, making an appointment is best because we need to prepare a file for each patient, and we need patient records in order to treat someone."

According to Galiger, making an appointment also helps the doctor and nurses to manage the time required for each child's needs.

According to the department's written statement, children are eligible for the free program, including vaccinations, if they meet a certain set of requirements. Eligible children include those without health insurance, with health insurance that does not pay for vaccinations, on NJ KidCare Plans B, C, or D and children who are American Indian or Alaskan native.

All children receiving medical care from the conference must be residents of either Montville Township or Mountain Lakes Borough.  For more information residents are urged to call the health department at 973-331-3316.