County Plans Free Pneumonia Vaccination Aug. 26

CREST HAVEN – Cape May County Department of Health will offer free pneumococcal vaccinations on Wednesday, Aug. 26 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Department of Health, 6 Moore Road in Court House (exit 11 off of the Garden State Parkway).
Freeholder Gerald Thornton said, “A very limited supply of vaccine is available and will be given on a first-come, first-served basis to high-risk individuals only. Children less than 18 years of age must have a physician’s script to receive the vaccine. Physician scripts are not required for adults.”
Health Officer Kevin Thomas stated, “Many serious complications of influenza illness are related to pneumonia and the pneumococcal vaccine can prevent, or at least limit these complications in many patients.” It is unclear at this point what role pneumococcal infections play in novel influenza H1N1 infections, but the pneumonia vaccine may help limit illness and death.
Thornton added, “The County normally offers pneumococcal vaccinations during flu season. However, since we don’t know how the novel influenza H1N1 virus will act in the fall, we want to offer protection against pneumococcal disease now before the flu season begins.”
While the CDC recommends a single dose of pneumococcal vaccine for all persons 65 years and older, the CDC and the Department of Health strongly encourage persons 2-64 years of age with the following conditions to get a pneumococcal vaccine, as according to Health Officer Kevin Thomas, “Vaccine coverage is low in this age group and younger persons appear to be most affected by severe cases of novel influenza H1N1 infection”.
Pneumococcal vaccination is recommended for persons 2 to 64 years who have:
· Chronic cardiovascular disease
· Chronic pulmonary disease
· Diabetes
· Alcoholism
· Chronic liver disease (including cirrhosis)
· Cerebrospinal fluid leaks
· Functional or anatomic asplenia (including sickle-cell disease and splenectomy)
· Immunocompromising conditions (including HIV infection, leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, multiple myeloma, generalized malignancy, chronic renal failure, nephrotic syndrome, those receiving immunosuppressive chemotherapy including corticosteroids, and those who have received an organ or bone marrow transplant)
Pneumococcal vaccination is also recommended for persons 19 to 64 years who smoke cigarettes or have Asthma.
A single revaccination at least five years after initial vaccination is recommended for people 65 years and older who were first vaccinated before age 65 as well as for people at highest risk, such as those who have no spleen, and those who have HIV infection, AIDS or malignancy.
A separate pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for all children less than 5 years. Parents should ask their child’s physician about routine childhood vaccination.
Additional information can be found at www.cmchealth.net or by calling 463-6581.