The Burlington County Health Department will now offer adult immunization clinics to county residents starting in mid-February.
As the senior citizen population continues to grow, the freeholders and health department hope to reach the many adults who need important immunizations but are unable to receive them due to lack of coverage or high cost.
One vaccination that falls into this category is the Zoster (Shingles; for those over 60 years old who have had chicken pox) vaccine. The adult immunization clinic looks to address this void by providing this vaccination along with several others.
The Adult Immunization Clinic will offer the following immunizations:
· Hepatitis A
· Hepatitis B
· Hepatitis A & B
· Human Papillomavirus (HPV) for 19 to 26 year olds
· Influenza
· Meningococcal
· Pneumococcal
· Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria and Acellular Pertussis)
· Zoster
“Vaccines are as important to your overall health as diet and exercise. Like eating right, exercising and getting regular screenings for diseases such as colon and breast cancer, vaccines can also play a vital role in keeping you healthy. Vaccines are one of the simplest, most convenient preventive care measures available,” said Eve Cullinan, Director of Health for Burlington County.
To be eligible for the Adult Immunization Clinic an adult must be 19 years of age or older and meet at least one of the following criteria:
· Uninsured: An adult who has no health insurance coverage
· Underinsured: An adult who has commercial (private) health insurance but the coverage does not include vaccines, or covers only selected vaccines, or insurance that caps vaccine coverage at a certain amount. Once that coverage amount is reached, the adult is categorized as underinsured.
Clinics will be held at the Health Department every second Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. starting Feb. 14.
Once eligibility is completed, clients will need to get a referral from their primary care provider so that we may obtain a history of immunizations and a reason for vaccine request.
There is no cost for the client’s participation to receive these immunizations, and documentation will be given to them to give to their primary care provider.
For more information or to register for an appointment, please call (609) 265–5533.
