County Schedules Swine Flu Clinic at College

COUNTY PRESS RELEASE:
COUNTY SCHEDULES H1N1 VACCINATION CLINIC
Cape May Court House – Freeholder Gerald Thornton today announced the date of the County’s first H1N1 flu clinic. The Cape May County Department of Health will offer H1N1 flu vaccinations to persons in the CDC priority groups on Friday, October 30 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Atlantic Cape Community College’s Cape May County campus, located at 341 Court House-South Dennis Road in Cape May Court House.
This clinic is for Cape May County residents in CDC priority groups ONLY. These groups are:
• Pregnant women
• Healthcare workers
• Anyone 6 months through 24 years of age
• Persons 25-64 years of age with a chronic medical condition that places them at high-risk for influenza complications
• Parents or caregivers of infants less than 6 months of age
Health Officer Kevin Thomas advised residents, “The Department of Health is following CDC and State Health Department guidelines to offer the vaccine first to those groups at highest risk of infection and severe disease. The H1N1 flu is different than seasonal flu. Persons 65 years and older are not at greatest risk of infection for H1N1 flu because they may have some immunity from a previous flu strain.”
The Department of Health will be holding other public clinics at locations around the county starting in November. Additionally, the Department will be offering the H1N1 flu vaccine in every County school for children to get vaccinated during the school day. Information on all H1N1 flu clinics will be posted on the Department’s website at www.cmchealth.net and on the flu hotline, 463-6581.
“Once the H1N1 flu vaccine has been offered to persons in the high-risk groups”, added Thomas, “we will offer it to healthy persons 25-64 years of age and then to persons 65 years and older. There will be plenty of H1N1 flu vaccine available for everyone who wishes to get vaccinated,” said Thomas. “However, we’re getting the initial vaccine shipments gradually, which is why we are following CDC’s recommendations to offer it to the highest-risk groups first until there is more vaccine available.”
Certain persons should not receive the H1N1 flu vaccine. Similar to seasonal flu, persons with a severe allergy to eggs, any of the vaccine components, or who have been diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome will need a prescription from their physician to get a flu vaccine.
Patient consent forms will be available on the Department’s website, at the Department of Health, and at County libraries. Out of county residents should contact their local Department of Health for flu clinic in their community. The Atlantic Cape Community College is accessible via NJ Transit route 552.