Clifton Health Department
Offers Seasonal Flu Shots
CLIFTON, NJ – The Clifton Health Department will be offering seasonal flu vaccines this year beginning in October. The flu vaccine is effective for only one year, so last year’s flu shot will not protect you this year. Flu vaccines are available to Clifton and Little Falls residents only. Consent forms will be available online at www.cliftonnj.org, the Clifton Health Department, Main Memorial Library in Clifton, and the Little Falls Municipal Building. Bringing a completed consent form to a flu clinic should expedite your visit.
The seasonal quadrivalent flu vaccine offers protection against four (4) different strains of the flu virus. A limited number of “high-dose” trivalent flu vaccines will be available to those 65 years of age and older. The “high-dose” flu vaccine offers protection against three (3) strains of the flu, but is designed to give a bigger boost to the immune systems of those 65 years of age and older.
The standard flu clinics are open to residents 6 years of age and older and do not require appointments. Standard flu clinics will be held at the Clifton Health Department Clinic, 2nd floor of City Hall, located on 900 Clifton Ave. in Clifton on the following dates:
Wednesday, October 18th from 2 pm-4 pm
Thursday, October 19th from 10:30 am-1 pm
Tuesday, October 24th from 10:30 am-1 pm
Wednesday, October 25th from 2 pm-4 pm
Monday, October 30th from 3 pm-7 pm
Wednesday, November 1st from 2 pm-4 pm
Wednesday, November 8th from 2 pm-4 pm
Standard flu clinics will also be held in Little Falls on the following dates and locations:
Thursday, October 5th from 11am- 12:30pm, at the Little Falls Civic Center, located on 19 Warren St. in Little Falls
Monday, October 16th from 3:30pm to 6:30pm at the Little Falls Municipal Building, 2nd floor-Conference Room, located on 225 Main St. in Little Falls
Children 6 months through 6 years of age will be accommodated by appointment only through the Clifton Health Department’s Children’s Immunization Clinic. Children’s Immunization Clinics are scheduled once a month on the following Tuesdays: October 17th, November 14th, and December 12th. Supply is limited. Please call 973-470-5770 to register in advance.
By law in New Jersey, children enrolled in daycare or preschool between the ages of 6 months to 59 months, who do not have documentation of a current flu shot by December 31st, 2017, must be excluded by their facility after December 31st, 2017 either until 3/31/18 (the official “end” of the flu season) or until documentation is provided.
Persons with Medicare Part B as their primary insurance can receive the flu vaccine for free. These individuals MUST bring their Medicare card for presentation at the clinic. In addition, children showing a Plan “A” Medicaid card or uninsured children may receive a flu vaccine at no cost. Individuals with an HMO, primary insurance other than Medicare part B, or no insurance will be asked to pay $20 in cash or check for the flu vaccine. Clifton and Little Falls Board of Education employees will be asked to pay $15 for the flu vaccine. The Clifton Health Department does not accept credit or debit cards. Medicaid or Food Assistance Programs will also not be accepted. If you are enrolled in these programs, you will be required to pay at the time of service.
It is especially critical that the following groups get vaccinated either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for people who are at high risk for developing flu-related complications:
Pregnant women
Children younger than 5, but especially children aged 6 months to 2 years
People 50 years of age and older
People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications, including:
Health care workers
Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age.
These children are too young to be vaccinated.
Pregnant women should seek to get their flu shots directly through their private healthcare providers. In addition, people with allergies, particularly to eggs, should consult with their physician before getting vaccinated. If you have any questions regarding whether or not you should receive this vaccine, or if you are 65 or older and you have questions about which vaccine you should have, please consult with your private physician.
The Clifton Health Department is a contractual health agency serving the Township of Little Falls.
