Shrewsbury, NJ – To help protect children, caregivers and the general population from the spread of flu, New Jersey now requires children ages 6 months to 5 years old who are attending a daycare or preschool to be vaccinated yearly against the flu. Parents have until December 31, 2008 to have their children vaccinated. As part of their ongoing commitment to public health, Passport Health, with locations in Shrewsbury, East Brunswick, Lawrenceville, Cherry Hill and Morristown, will be holding multiple vaccine clinic dates to accommodate the schedules of busy families. The Center for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends vaccination as part of a multi-prong strategy to prevent and limit the spread of illness.
According to Dr. John Minetti, Medical Director for Passport Health, there are two options now available for vaccination, the standard flu vaccine available as a shot an inactivated vaccine that is given with a needle, and the nasal-spray flu vaccine a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu. Says Dr. Minetti, both the FluMist nasal vaccine and the injected vaccine that are being dispensed by Passport Health are mercury and preservative free, an important consideration for many parents today. For more information about the vaccinations and clinic dates and times, visit www.flushotsfordaycare.com.
Flu is very contagious, especially among young children, who can easily spread the disease to others in the home, including grandparents, siblings or caregivers. According to the CDC, vaccination remains the best method for preventing influenza and its potentially severe complications in children and adults, even in years where there is a suboptimal match between vaccine and circulating strains of influenza viruses.”
Add One/ Flu Vaccination Clinics Available to Help Parents Fulfill Requirements
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In addition, they also recommend the appropriate use of influenza antiviral medications; frequent hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home from school and work when sick
Passport Health is a national network of independently owned and operated Travel Health and Immunization Clinics, with locations throughout New Jersey. Passport Health has been at the forefront of many vaccine related issues; from bio-terrorism to vaccinating troops deploying for Iraq. They are linked together in terms of knowledge sharing and buying power, so that patients receive first class service in a cost effective manner. For more information about Passport Health, visit www.passporthealthusa.com.
