County Flu Clinic

Cape May County Freeholder Kristine Gabor announced that the Cape May County Department of Health has scheduled a number of flu vaccination clinics for Cape May County residents during the month of October including the very popular Drive-Through Flu Shot Clinic. The free drive-through flu clinic for residents 14 years and older will take place on Oct. 14 from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Kindle Ford Autoplaza, which can be accessed at exit 9 off of the Garden State Parkway in Cape May Court House.

Health Officer Kevin Thomas reminds people coming to the drive-through clinic to bring completed consent forms with them. “It really is a safety issue,” said Thomas, “both for people getting the vaccine and for our staff and volunteers. Since we’re operating a drive-through clinic, it is not safe for people to complete their consent form while they are driving up to the clinic or by pulling off the side of the road. We make sure the consent forms are readily available in advance – at the Department of Health, online at cmchealth.net, and in local newspapers the week before the drive-through. Please bring a completed form with you and let’s make sure the experience stays a safe one for all,” said Thomas. Residents are also asked to wear a short-sleeved shirt and leave pets at home. Residents who need assistance with transportation to get to the drive-through clinic can call Fare Free Transportation at 889-3700.

In addition to the drive-through flu shot clinic, the Department of Health will be holding several clinics for children and their families in October. While supplies last, the FluMist nasal spray vaccine will be offered in addition to the injectable vaccine for eligible persons at these clinics. As a reminder, the CDC recommends an annual flu shot for everyone older than 6 months of age. Also, the New Jersey Department of Health requires that children less than 5 years old who attend daycare or preschool receive a flu shot each year by the end of December. Children who are not vaccinated will not be able to attend school until the end of the flu season, which is currently estimated as the end of March.

Children and Families clinics:

• Oct. 21, 12:30-3:30 p.m.
St. Frances Cabrini Church (1310 Ocean Ave, Ocean City)

• Oct. 24, 2-6 p.m.
Department of Health (6 Moore Rd, bldg #17, CMCH)

Also, there will be an additional senior flu and pneumonia clinic on Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Department of Health. To keep up to date on all of the County’s flu clinics, check the website at cmchealth.net or call the flu hotline at 463-6581.

For all County flu clinics, if you have a severe allergy to eggs, other vaccine component, or if you have been told by a doctor that you have had Guillain-Barré syndrome, you need to receive the flu vaccine from your personal physician. If you have a severe allergy to Thimerosal, you can receive the vaccine from the Department of Health, but not at the drive-through clinic.