Changing Weather Means Flu Season is Coming

With the flu season just around the corner, the Hillsborough Health Department has announced three clinics for local residents to get flu vaccinations in October. 

The clinics are open to all Hillsborough and Millstone residents 18 years and older, and will be held at the Hillsborough municipal complex. The Community Visiting Nurses of Somerset County will administer the vaccine, which includes vaccines to protect against the three strains of influenza most likely to cause illness during the 2013-2014 season. 

There will be a $25 charge to all participants unless a Medicare Part B Card is presented. If you are allergic to eggs or have any severe allergies, or if you have a fever, you may be excluded from receiving the vaccine.   Pregnant women cannot be vaccinated at these clinics. 

More clinics may be added later, but the following dates have been set:

• Oct. 8: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.; 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Oct. 10: 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

No pre-registration is required. For more information, call the Health Department at 908-369-5652.

The Health Department noted influenza is caused by viruses that change each year, infecting the respiratory tract, such as the nose, throat and lungs. About 5 to 20 percent of the population gets the flu in a season, and over 200,000 people must receive hospital care. Influenza weakens the body, and sometimes pneumonia is a secondary infection, which can result in death. In order to be protected, you must be revaccinated each year. It takes about two weeks from the receipt of the vaccination to develop immunity. The Centers for Disease Control has more information about flu vaccines available.

Can't make it to the township clinics? The Somerset Medical Center Urgent Care Center will host a clinic from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 5, and you can also get vaccinations at these pharmacies in town:

• Walgreen's offers flu vaccines for all ages, including nasal spray vaccinations for kids.
• CVS offers a convenient scheduler for vaccinations at the Hillsborough pharmacy on Triangle Road. The Hillsborough location can't provide vaccinations for children under 18.
• The pharmacies at Stop and Shop and Weis Markets also offer flu vaccines for adults.