Protect Your Family This Winter

The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) has announced a state-wide initiative to provide no-cost COVID-19 and flu vaccinations for residents, including children ages six months and older. The goal is to protect families and communities during the 2025-2026 respiratory illness virus season, making prevention easy no matter your insurance status.

Upcoming Clinics Include:

• Hackensack University Medical Center (Hackensack) 155, Polifly Road, Suite 102, Hackensack, NJ: COVID-19 & flu vaccines, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 5:30 -7:30 p.m.

Link to schedule: hackensackmeridianhealth.org/en/covid19

• Cooper Primary Care at Kroc Center (Camden) 1865 Harrison Avenue, Building C, Suite 1300, Camden, NJ: Pediatric COVID-19 shots, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 1- 4:30 p.m.

Link to schedule: resources.cooperhealth.org/pediatric-covid-vaccinations

For more details and locations, visit the NJDOH vaccine site: nj.gov/health/covid-19/information/vaccines or call your local health department.

What You Need to Know:

• Pediatric COVID-19 and flu vaccine clinic events are scheduled across New Jersey, open to families, including children six months old and older.

• Vaccinations are no cost during these clinic events.

• You can also receive RSV protection if you or your children are eligible.

Who Should Get Vaccinated?

• Everyone six months and older is encouraged to get the latest COVID-19 and flu vaccines.

• Vaccination is especially recommended for adults over 65, those pregnant, young children, people with chronic illnesses, and caregivers.

• Those caring for high-risk individuals and healthcare workers should prioritize vaccination.

“Respiratory virus season is here, making it more important than ever to get vaccinated and stay protected,” said Acting NJDOH Commissioner Jeff Brown. “By partnering with leading health systems in all regions of the state, we are making sure families have direct, convenient, and reliable access to vaccines close to home.” Acting Commissioner Brown received his COVID and flu shots in September at Henry J. Austin Health Center in Trenton.

Getting Vaccinated is Simple: Most eligible individuals can receive vaccines at local clinics, doctor’s offices, federally qualified health centers, and most pharmacies (no prescription required for COVID-19 shots ages 3+). Many vaccines are covered by insurers at little to no cost to individuals.

In addition, NJDOH’s Vaccine Preventable Disease Program (VPDP) helps to reduce economic barriers to childhood vaccines through the Vaccines for Children program, which offers vaccines at no or low cost to eligible children through health care providers enrolled in the program. The VPDP also administers the 317-funded adult program, which provides vaccines to uninsured and underinsured adults.

Protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community - take advantage of no- cost vaccine opportunities this season.

A few minutes today can help protect your family all season long.

Source: New Jersey Department of Health (https://www.nj.gov/health/ )