Give the Gift of Health This Valentine's Day

Know what makes a great Valentine’s Day gift for your sweetheart? A free immunization.

No? OK, maybe it’s not the most romantic idea, but it’s hard to argue with being healthy.

As such, starting February 14 the Burlington County Health Department will begin offering adult immunization clinics to county residents from 3-6 p.m. every second Thursday of the month.

As the senior citizen population continues to grow, the freeholders and the Health Department hope to reach the many adults who need important immunizations but are unable to receive them due to lack of coverage or high cost.

The clinics, held at the Health Department, will offer the following immunizations:

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis A & B
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) for 19- to 26-year-olds
• Influenza
• Meningococcal
• Pneumococcal
• Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria and Acellular Pertussis)
• Zoster (Shingles)

“Vaccines are as important to your overall health as diet and exercise. Like eating right, exercising and getting regular screenings for diseases such as colon and breast cancer, vaccines can also play a vital role in keeping you healthy,” said Eve Cullinan, director of health for Burlington County.  

To be eligible for the immunizations, an adult must be 19 years of age or older and meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Uninsured: An adult who has no health insurance coverage
• Underinsured: An adult who has commercial (private) health insurance, but the coverage does not include vaccines, or covers only selected vaccines, or insurance that caps vaccine coverage at a certain amount. Once that coverage amount is reached, the adult is categorized as underinsured.

Once eligibility is completed clients will need to get a referral from their primary care provider so the county can obtain a history of immunizations and a reason for the vaccine request.

There is no cost for participation to receive the immunizations, and documentation will be given to resident to give to their primary care provider.

For more information or to register for an appointment, call 609-265-5533.

Provided by the Burlington County Office of Public Information