Ocean County Flu Shot Clinics Underway For 2020

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The Ocean County Health Department is holding a flu vaccine clinic on Saturday in the gymnasium at Toms River High School North.

The shots will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., but you must make an appointment on the health department's website, www.ochd.org.

Influenza vaccinations are with no out-of-pocket expense to all Ocean County residents, and health department officials are urging residents to get flu shots because of the anticipated impacts of flu season and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic on area hospitals.

The number of coronavirus infections has risen both in Ocean County and statewide in the last several weeks, and state health officials say there has been an increase in hospitalizations and in the number of people needing care in the intensive care unit as well. There were 728 people hospitalized due to the coronavirus, with 178 in intensive care and 60 on ventilators as of Friday, according to the state COVID-19 website.

If you cannot get to Saturday's clinic, the county health department has clinics scheduled at the following dates and times.

• 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 Calabreze Way, Little Egg Harbor
• Oct. 29: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Stafford Recreation Center, 25 Pine Street, Manahawkin
• 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 at 200 Volunteer Way, Waretown
• Nov. 10: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Jackson Township Senior Center, 45 Don Connor Boulevard, Jackson
• Nov. 12: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Stafford Recreation Center, 25 Pine Street, 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: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Ocean County Fire and EMS Training Center, 200 Volunteer Way, Waretown
• 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., in Berkeley Township (site to be determined)
• Dec. 5: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., RWJ Barnabas Health Arena, 1245 Old Freehold Road, Toms River
• Dec. 8: 10 a.m.-2 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 Boulevard, Jackson
• Dec. 17: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., County Connection (Ocean County Mall), 1201 Hooper Avenue, Toms River

The health department also provided 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.

Getting a flu vaccine will:

• Help keep you out of a medical setting.
• Lowers risk of COVID-19 exposure.
• 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 OCHD 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 CDC.Gov/Vaccines/hcp/vis.

For more information please call 732-341-9700 or 800-342-9738 ext. 7411 or visit www.ochd.org.

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