Regional Board of Health Flu Clinics Start Wednesday

With fall officially here and a chill in the air, it's not too early to prepare for flu season. 

The Westfield Regional Health Department has scheduled seasonal flu inoculation programs. These are open only to residents of Cranford, Fanwood, Garwood, Mountainside, New Providence, Roselle Park, Summit and Westfield. 

Proof of residency may be required. There is a $15, cash-only fee for each participant who does not have Medicare B or the following insurances: Aetna, CIGNA, Humana, Medicaid and United Healthcare. 

Residents are asked to bring their health insurance card. Anyone who is Medicare Part B eligible must please bring their card to the program. Participants will be taken on a first come/first serve basis.

The following are the dates, times and locations:

Wednesday, 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Westfield Municipal Building, 425 E. Broad St. Westfield (Court Room) 

Thursday, 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Garwood Fire House, 415 North Ave. Garwood

Tuesday, October 1, 10 a.m. to noon New Providence - Senior Citizens Center 15 E. 4th Street, New Providence.

The Center for Disease Control now recommends all individuals 6 months and older receive seasonal influenza vaccine (i.e., the flu shot) especially:

• persons aged 65 years and older, with and without chronic health conditions

• residents of long-term care facilities

• persons aged 2–64 years with chronic health conditions

• children aged 6 months or older, who attend any licensed child care center or pre-school activity

• pregnant women