Camden County Adds Additional Flu-Shot Clinics

Update, 10 a.m. 1/15/13: Camden County released updated information for the flu clinic Jan. 23 at Stratford Senior/Community Center in Stratford. That clinic will be held from 3 to 7 p.m.  

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Camden County submitted the following news release: 

In light of the early and aggressive onset of the flu, Camden County freeholders have scheduled additional seasonal influenza immunization locations. The clinics will provide a necessary public health service for residents who have not received their flu shots and make sure businesses stay productive with healthy employees.

• Jan. 16 - Cherry Hill Municipal Building, 820 Mercer Street, Cherry Hill 9 a.m.-noon

• Jan. 17 – Camden City Hall, 520 Market St., 9 a.m.-noon

• Jan. 18 – Gloucester Township Municipal Building, 1261 Chews Landing Road, Blackwood, 9 a.m.-noon

• Jan. 23 – Stratford Senior/Community Center, 302 Union Ave. Stratford, 9 a.m.-noon

• Jan. 28 - Bellmawr Regional Health Center, 35 Browning Road, Bellmawr 3-7 p.m. 

“The Camden County Health Department has adequate supplies of vaccine to accommodate these additional clinics, and will continue to add locations this flu season until our supply runs out,” said Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Camden County Health Department. “The best way to avoid getting the flu is to get immunized. We feel is it important to distribute all of the vaccine we have to the residents of Camden County.”

Flu shots are recommended to those in high priority groups including senior citizens, pregnant women and chronically ill individuals.  Flu shots are also recommended to people with weakened immune or cardiovascular systems, or with chronic metabolic diseases, renal dysfunction or blood disorders.

Children aged 9 and older must be accompanied by an adult. Children under 9 need two shots, a month apart, and should be seen by a pediatrician.  Uninsured children should call CamCare at 856-541-9811 or the Bellmawr Health Center at 856-931-2700.

“We encourage you to take advantage of this beneficial service provided by Camden County in order to keep your family healthy this flu season,” Rodriguez said. “We have scheduled additional flu shot sites because the CDC continues to recommend influenza vaccinations this flu season.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in high flu states 70 percent to 80 percent of the coughs you hear around you right now stem from the flu. These statistics further emphasize the need to vaccinate as many residents as possible throughout the County.

“This is an early season, with more influenza activity being reported at this time than has been seen during recent flu seasons,” Camden County Health Officer Paschal Nwako said. “The CDC is watching the situation closely and will provide additional information, including interim vaccine effectiveness (VE) estimates, as it becomes available.”

A statement released by the CDC on Jan. 4, explained that influenza activity continues to increase in the United States and most of the country is now experiencing high levels of influenza-like-illness.

“Reports of influenza-like-illness are nearing what have been peak levels during moderately severe seasons,” according to Dr. Joe Bresee, Chief of the Epidemiology and Prevention Branch in CDC’s Influenza Division. “While we can’t say for certain how severe this season will be, we can say that a lot of people are getting sick with influenza and we are getting reports of severe illness and hospitalizations. Anyone who has not already been vaccinated should do so now.” 

“Camden County has also scheduled flu shots for our employees in order to avoid any staffing problems, and to ensure critical services continue to be provided to our residents this flu season,” Rodriguez said.

For more information, contact the county Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-999-9045, or visit www.camdencounty.com.