Burlington County Residents Urged To Get Flu Shot

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — As the coronavirus pandemic drags on, another, more familiar virus is set to return, and health officials are stressing the need to get vaccinated against both.

Burlington County health officials are urging residents to get their seasonal flu shot as soon as possible. Beginning this week, the flu shots will be available every Thursday through January, county officials announced.

Clinics will be open throughout the county for anyone who is 6 years old and older. Signed consent forms will be required, and residents are encouraged to print out and bring the completed form with them to the clinics. The form is available online at http://www.co.burlington.nj.us/355/Flu-Information.

While the flu vaccine will not protect residents against the coronavirus, health officials stress getting both vaccines to cut down on the danger of becoming infected with both.

The flu shot reduces the risk of illness and can prevent hospitalizations and deaths, officials said. Getting a flu shot also helps conserve potentially scarce health care resources during the still ongoing pandemic, according to officials.

“While not as deadly or transmissible as COVID-19, influenza still typically sends at least 100,000 people to the hospital each year,” Burlington County Health Director Dr. Herb Conaway said. “Getting a flu shot also helps conserve potentially scarce health care resources during this pandemic.”

Anyone ages 65 and older and 2 years old and younger, as well as those with weakened immune systems, have a higher risk of experiencing complications from the flu, but an annual seasonal flu shot is recommended for all residents aged six months and older by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The seasonal flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by flu viruses. It spreads between people and can cause mild to severe illness. In some cases, the flu can lead to death, officials said.
In the United States, flu season occurs in the fall and winter. Seasonal flu activity usually peaks in January or February, but it can occur as early as October and as late as May.

For the vaccine to provide full protection against the flu, it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body. Getting vaccinated early in the fall helps to reduce the chances residents may get the flu before the vaccine is able to provide full protection, officials said.

It can sometimes be hard to tell the difference between a bad cold and the flu. Primary care providers may be able to test residents within the first few days of symptoms in order to determine if they have the flu or not. Symptoms of the flu include:

• A 100F or higher fever or feeling feverish
• A cough and/or sore throat
• A runny or stuffy nose
• Headaches and/or body aches
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea (most common in children)

Burlington County accepts Medicare Part “B” to cover the cost for the seasonal flu vaccines. A donation of $15 for seasonal flu vaccine is recommended by those not covered by Medicare if residents can afford it.

For more information on the flu, contact the Burlington County Health Department at 609-265-5533 or online at www.co.burlington.nj.us/health.

Additional information can be accessed online at www.cdc.gov/flu or www.flu.gov. The Burlington County Health Department’s Raphael Meadow Health Center is located at 15 Pioneer Boulevard in Westampton, within the county complex.

The schedule for all county residents is listed below. Children can only be vaccinated at children’s clinics.

• Sept. 23: 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Woodland Municipal Building, 3943 Route 563 in Chatsworth
• Sept. 23: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Old Green Bank School, 2436 Route 563 in Egg Harbor City
• Sept. 30: 10 a.m. to noon at the New Gretna Fire Company, 5 North Maple Avenue in New Gretna
• Oct. 7: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Wrightstown Volunteer Fire Company, 21 Saylors Pond Road in Wrightstown
• Oct. 7: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Keegan Center, 522 Wood Street in Burlington City
• Oct. 14: 10 a.m. to noon at the Palmyra Community Center, 30 West Broad Street in Palmyra
• Oct. 14: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Florence Municipal Building, 711 Broad Street in Florence
• Oct. 16: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the garage at the Burlington Township Municipal Building, 851 Old York Road in Burlington Township
• Oct. 21: 10 a.m. to noon at the Shamong Township Municipal Building, 105 Willow Grove Road in Shamong
• Oct. 21: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Medford Municipal Building, 49 Union Street in Medford
• Oct. 28: 10 a.m. to noon at the Carslake Community Center, 207 Crosswicks Street in Bordentown City
• Nov. 4: 10 a.m. to noon at Blue Barn, 1004 Tuckerton Road in Evesham
• Nov. 4: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Fire Station 431, 76 Hawkin Road in Tabernacle

• Nov. 18: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Dec. 2: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Dec. 9: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Dec. 16: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Dec. 30: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Jan. 3: 9 a.m. to noon
• Jan. 6: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.