Community Visiting Nurse Association provides Flu and Pneumonia immunization clinics to the general public (age 18 and older) at public sites, corporations, senior centers and at Community VNA's office in Somerville NJ. The schedule for public flu clinics will be posted on our calendar on this website in early September, listing where the immunizations will be available, addresses and times.

Who should get a Flu Shot?
A yearly flu shot is recommended for the following groups of people who are at increased risk for serious complications from the flu:

• persons aged 50 or older*
• residents of nursing homes and other long term care facilities that house persons of any age who have long-term illnesses
• adults and children 6 months and older who have chronic heart or lung conditions, including asthma
• adults and children 6 months and older who need regular medical care or had to be in a hospital because of metabolic diseases (like diabetes)
• chronic kidney disease or weakened immune system {including immune system problems caused by medicine or by infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS)}
• children and teenagers (aged 6 months to 18 years) who are on long term aspirin therapy and therefore could develop Reye syndrome after flu
• women who will be more than 3 months pregnant during the flu season.

Because young, otherwise healthy children are at increased risk for influenza-related hospitalization, influenza vaccination of healthy children aged 6-23 months is encouraged when feasible.

* People 50 to 64 years of age who do not have chronic (long term) medical conditions might not be at high risk for serious complications from the flu. However, about 26% of people aged 50-64 years have high risk conditions and are at risk for flu-related complications. Beginning in 2000, a flu shot was recommended for all people 50-64 years old each year to increase the number of high risk 50 to 64 year olds who get a flu shot.

Community VNA offers flu shots to adults only, age 18 years or older. Children and pregnant women should see their physician for a flu shot.

*CDC Center for Diease Control

Pneumonia Immunizations
Unlike the Flu vaccine, pneumonia vaccine is not given yearly. Once you have been immunized, check with your physician about the necessity to repeat the vaccine in 5 to 10 years. This will vary from person to person, depending on how old you were when you received your immunization, physical condition and/or chronic diseases.

Who Should Get A Pneumonia Immunization?
A pneumonia shot is recommended for everyone age 65 and older, even if they have had pneumonia in the past. The vaccine is also recommended for those who have a chronic illness, such as heart or lung disease, sickle cell disease, liver disease, alcoholism or diabetes. And it is recommended for people with weakened immune systems (as a result of kidney disease, cancer, HIV infection, organ transplantation, chemotherapy or removal of their spleen). Community Home Care immunizes adults 18 and over .

Payment for Flu and Pneumonia Immunizations
For those with Medicare as their primary insurance who subscribe to Medicare part B, Medicare will pay for your flu shot or pneumonia shot. You will need to present your Medicare card at the flu clinic.

For all others, the cost of a flu shot is $25.00.
The cost of a Pneumonia shot is $35.00

Managed Medicare, managed care, Medicaid and private insurances do not cover flu or pneumonia immunizations from Community VNA.

For more information, call our Community Services Coordinator at 908-725-9355, ext. 2201 or contact us .