Ocean County's Remaining Stash Of Flu Shots Are Now Free

TOMS RIVER, NJ - You can now get a free flu shot at one of Ocean County's remaining flu clinics, county health department officials said Thursday.

The $20 fee for a shot has been waived because of the severity of this year's flu season, administrator Brian Rumpf announced at the Board of Freeholders meeting yesterday, according to a report in the Asbury Park Press.

“As the best prevention to contracting the flu is obtaining a flu shot, all residents are urged to obtain their free flu shot without delay, unless they have already obtained a flu shot this season,” Rumpf said in a prepared statement. “Ocean County residents are advised to attend any one of the upcoming free flu shot clinics offered by the Ocean County Health Department.”

County Public Health Coordinator Daniel E. Regenye said the county has given more than 3,000 doses so far at various clinics and still has 2,000 doses left.

If parents are unsure about whether their child has the flu, Regenye advised them to take the to their doctor.

“If in doubt, take them to the doctor – take them to their pediatrician – who knows their child’s health best,” he said.

The New Jersey Department of Health confirmed that recently that a 4-year-old girl from “Central Jersey” had died of a flu-related illness between Dec. 23 and Dec. 30.

The flu vaccines offered at the health department flu clinics this year will target four different flu viruses
or strains. The high dose strain targets three different flu viruses.

Here are the remaining dates for the flu clinics at the northern site in Lakewood:
2/21/18 - Wednesday - 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
3/9/18 - Friday - 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
3/21/18 Wednesday - 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Here are the remaining dates for the southern site in Stafford Township:
2/22/18 -Thursday - 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
3/8/18 - Thursday - 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
3/22/18 - Thursday - 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Here are the remaining clinics at the main site in the Health Department in Toms River:
3/1/18 - Thursday - 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
3/5/18 - Monday- 4:00 p.m. to 7 p.m.
3/13/18 - Tuesday - 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
3/15/18 - Thursday - 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
3/19/18 - Monday - 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

For more information, contact Rumpf at 732-341-9700, ext. 7210.

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