Flu clinics scheduled

The Monmouth County Board of Health has scheduled several flu and pneumonia vaccine clinics for county residents.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, recommends the flu vaccine for persons 50 years of age and older; and persons 18-50 years old with long-term health problems, a weakened immune system, who are undergoing cancer treatment, on long-term treatment with steroids; or who are health care workers or provide key community services.

Although the CDC recommends the vaccine for children ages 6 months to 18 years, due to dosing, the need in some cases for two vaccines to be given one month apart, and the need for a pediatrician, the county will not be giving the vaccine to anyone under 18 years of age.

The CDC is also recommending the flu vaccine for pregnant women, but due to liability in ensuring the weeks of pregnancy, and not having an obstetrician to prescribe the vaccine, this group will not be eligible for the flu shot.

Also not eligible are healthy adults ages 18-50; anyone with a previous reaction to the flu vaccine; anyone allergic to eggs; anyone with Guillain-Barre Syndrome; or anyone who is ill at the time the vaccine is scheduled.

Medicare Part B card will be accepted for payment; for all others, the charge is $15 for the flu vaccine, $10 for pneumonia.

The following local clinics are scheduled:

• Oct. 15, 10-11 a.m. at the Englishtown municipal building, 15 Main St., (732) 446-9235.

• Oct. 22, 9-10 a.m., Crossroads at Howell (for Crossroads residents only, age 60 and older, no charge) 720 Route 9 south, (732) 683-1244.

• Oct. 22, 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Friendship Gardens (for Friendship Gardens residents only, age 60 and older, no charge), 100 Friendship Road, Howell, (732) 370-9110; and Howell Senior Center (for Howell residents only, age 60 and older, no charge), Preventorium Road, (732) 938-4500.

• Oct. 23, 9:30-11:30 a.m. at The Villages (for Howell residents only, age 60 and older, no charge), Route 9, Howell, (732) 431-1646.

• Oct. 23, 1:30-3:30 p.m. at Surrey Downs Club House (for Howell residents only, age 60 and older, no charge) 1 Queen Ann Blvd., Howell, (732) 308-4134.

• Oct. 27, 1-2 p.m. at Farmingdale Community Center, 13 Asbury Ave., (732) 938-4077.

• Oct. 30, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Marlboro Recreation Center, 1996 Recreation Way, (732) 617-0100.