New Round of Flu Shot Clinics Scheduled in Ocean County

If you shrugged off a flu vaccination this season - and the onslaught of the dangerous H3N2 strain is giving you second thoughts - the Ocean County Health Department gives you a second chance. Eight extra flu shot clinics are scheduled through February 26.

The first clinicbegins this afternoon, 2 PM until 4 PM in Manahawkin, at the OCHD headquarters in the Stafford Business Park, 333 Haywood Road. Subsequent clinics are as follows:

• Wednesday, January 14 - Ocean County Health Department Northern Site, 1771 Madison Ave. (Rt. 9), Lakewood, 2nd Floor Conference Room, Lakewood, from 2 - 4PM

• Tuesday, January 20 - Ocean County Health Department Clinic Site, 1163 Rt. 37, Suite C2, Toms River, 2:30 to 4PM

• Tuesday, February 3 - Ocean County Health Department, 175 Sunset Ave., Toms River, 2:30 - 4PM

• Friday, February 6 - - 333 Haywood Rd. (Stafford Business Park), Manahawkin, 1 - 3PM

• Monday, February 9 - 1771 Madison Avenue (Rt.9), Lakewood, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 10 - 12PM

• Tuesday, February 17, Ocean County Health Department, 175 Sunset Ave., Toms River, 2:30 - 4PM

• Thursday, February 26, - 333 Haywood Rd. (Stafford Business Park), Manahawkin, 4 - 7PM

Ocean County is in a high cycle of flu activity, according to health officials. They expect this flu season to be "worse than usual" in light of a higher propensity for severe illnesses, hospitalizations and even death connected to the H3N2 virus.

It's already acknowledged that the vaccine being distributed is not effective against all strains. Still, health officials suggest that it's better than no protection at all.

OCHD Public Health Coordinator Dan Regneye says that immunity develops about two weeks after the vaccination." The Ocean County Health Department will continue to offer flu vaccination clinics as long as the flu is circulating," Regneye said in a prepared release.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta recommends flu shots for:

• Children 6 months through 4 years
• People age 50 and older
•  People with lung disease, heart disease, kidney disease and other chronic conditions
• People with compromised immune systems
• Women who are, or who expect to be, pregnant during flu season
• Residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities
• Health care workers
• People who are morbidly obese
• Caregivers of children under 5 and caregivers of adults 50 and older.

If you're down with a virus, county health officials urge you to contact a healthcare provider and follow some common sense methods to stop the spread of flu:

• Wash your hands with soap and water
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and discard tissue
• Avoid sick people
• Stay home when sick

Keep up with the clinic schedule and other developments during flu season at the Ocean County Health Department Web Page; follow OCHD on Twitter@OCpublichealth; or visit the OCHD Facebook page.

For information by phone, call 732-341-9700, extension 7515.