Ocean County health officials urging residents to get a flu shot

Yes it is still summer but flu season is right around the corner and in 2020 happens to be taking place during a pandemic, which is why state and local health leaders are encouraging residents to get their shots to stay safe and protected from influenza this fall.

The Ocean County Health Department is now urging everyone to do their part to help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses, like flu and COVID-19 at the same time by getting a flu shot, remaining socially distant in public and wearing a mask as we head into the fall.

“The influenza vaccine will not protect against COVID-19, but it does have important benefits,” Ocean County Freeholder Gerry Little, liaison to the Ocean County Board of Health, said in prepared remarks. “Getting a flu shot can lower your risk of getting sick, being hospitalized or dying from flu. If you’ve never had a flu shot, this is certainly the year to visit one of our clinics and to get one especially with COVID-19 being another potentially deadly respiratory illness.”

To help make things easier for you, the OCHD has put out their 2020 Influenza & Pneumonia Clinic schedule with a full set of dates to be held all over the county where you can go and get a flu shot (see below).

“Getting a flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from flu this fall and winter,” Ocean County Public Health Coordinator Dan Regenye said in prepared remarks. “The more people vaccinated, the more people protected. Getting a flu vaccine is something everyone can do to reduce the impact of flu. It not only will protect yourself and your community, but it will protect the medical providers on the frontlines who will continue to deal with COVID-19 and flu patients.”

October:

• 10/15/20 Thursday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Jackson Township Senior Center 45 Don Connor Blvd, Jackson

• 10/17/20 Saturday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Toms River High School North (Gym) 1245 Old Freehold Road, Toms River

• 10/20/20 Tuesday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Brick Senior Center/VFW Post 8867 373 Adamston Road, Brick

• 10/22/20 Thursday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Ocean County Fire and EMS Training Center 200 Volunteer Way, Waretown

• 10/27/20 Tuesday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Edward Thornton Community Center 319 West Calabreeze Way, Little Egg Harbor

• 10/29/20 Thursday 10:00 AM- 2:00 PM Stafford Recreation Center 25 Pine Street, Manahawkin

November:

• 11/5/20 Thursday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Forked River Columbian Club 15 East Lacey Road, Forked River

• 11/7/20 Saturday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Ocean County Fire and EMS Training Center 200 Volunteer Way, Waretown

• 11/10/20 Tuesday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Jackson Township Senior Center 45 Don Connor Boulevard, Jackson

• 11/12/20 Thursday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Stafford Recreation Center 25 Pine Street, Manahawkin

• 11/17/20 Tuesday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Edward Thornton Community Center 319 West Calabreeze Way, Little Egg Harbor

• 11/19/20 Thursday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Brick Senior Center/VFW Post 8867 373 Adamston Road, Brick

• 11/21/20 Saturday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM RWJ Barnabas Health Arena 1245 Old Freehold Road, Toms River

• 11/23/20 Monday 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Ocean County Fire and EMS Training Center 200 Volunteer Way, Waretown

December:

• 12/1/20 Tuesday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Forked River Columbian Club 15 East Lacey Road, Forked River

• 12/3/20 Thursday Berkley Township (TBD) 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• 12/5/20 Saturday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM RWJ Barnabas Health Arena 1245 Old Freehold Road, Toms River

• 12/8/20 Tuesday 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM Edward Thornton Community Center 319 West Calabreeze Way, Little Egg Harbor

• 12/10/20 Thursday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Ocean County Fire and EMS Training Center 200 Volunteer Way, Waretown

• 12/15/20 Tuesday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Jackson Township Senior Center 45 Don Connor Boulevard, Jackson

• 12/17/20 Thursday 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM County Connection (Ocean County Mall) 1201 Hooper Avenue, Toms River

The OCHD is also providing a general COVID-19 Information Call Hot Line for residents and clinicians to answer questions regarding the coronavirus or the flu which is 732-341-9700 or (800) 342-9738 extension 7411.

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