County Health Department Offers 'Clinic to Go'

The Somerset County Health Department is bringing H1N1 shots right to your doorstep and encouraging all community groups, schools and religious organizations to take advantage of this offer.

All interested groups need to do is provide the location and advertise it to your members. The Health Department has vaccination teams ready to provide H1N1 shots at your location. They will supply nurses, the vaccine, supplies and waste removal – all at no cost to the host organization.

For further information or to put in a request for a "Clinic to Go," call the county Health Department at (908) 231-7155 weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

"The H1N1 virus is believed to be a warm-weather bug, and with the warm weather we have now, there is no telling how the situation will evolve," said Freeholder Patrick Scaglione, health liaison. "If you still haven't received your H1N1 shot, we are encouraging you to get it now."

H1N1 first emerged in the warmer weather of the spring of 2009. According to a March 27 report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), H1N1 flu is still around and causing serious illness, particularly in the southeast. Three states –  Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina – are reporting regional flu activity.  Puerto Rico and eight other states – Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Hawaii and New Mexico – are reporting local flu activity.

The CDC reports that half of all Americans are not yet protected against H1N1 flu, even though safe and effective H1N1 vaccines are now available for all ages.