Carteret, NJ – Mayor Dan Reiman has joined with the Middlesex County Board of Health in announcing that Carteret will host free H1N1 (Swine Flu) vaccinations for county residents.
No appointments will be required for the clinic, which will be held on Tuesday February 9 from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., at the Thomas J. Deverin Public Library and Community Center, 100 Cooke Avenue. Participants must be aged 6 months or older.
“We’re thankful that the Middlesex County Freeholder Board has coordinated these clinics,” Mayor Reiman stated. “H1N1 vaccinations will address the individual health needs of our residents, but also benefit the county as a whole by moving us closer to our goal of community-wide immunity.”
H1N1 flu, also referred to as swine flu, is a respiratory disease caused by Type A influenza viruses. Like all influenza viruses, flu viruses change constantly. A new strain of influenza A (H1N1) virus that is a mix of swine, human and/or avian influenza viruses has recently been reported that is contagious and spreading from human to human. Human-to-human transmission can occur through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the influenza virus. People may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. People with H1N1 influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possibly for up to 7 days following illness onset. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.
Mayor Reiman has stated that this will be one of many new health programs that the Borough will be offering this year, including the second installment of the Health Department’s Soldiers & Sailors Health Fair, first introduced last fall, and a range of new animal services and programs. In recent years the Health Department has substantially increased the range of health services available to residents, in particular those offered through the Health Department’s Office on Aging.
Carteret’s vaccination clinic has been sponsored and coordinated by the Middlesex County Health Department’s Committee of Public Health & Education.
“We’ve been working to regionalize all of our clinics,” Middlesex County Freeholder Ron Rios added. “We’ve been proactive in meeting the health needs of our residents. The popularity of these clinics has been testament to the quality of our many health programs and services.”
