HEALTHY HIGHLIGHTS

Two Vaccines, One Clinic:
Tdap and Meningococcal Vaccines Available to Teens and Adults

The Greater Somerset Public Health Partnership (GSPHP), which consists of 13+ local public health organizations serving the greater Somerset county area, will be providing the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) vaccine to adolescents and adults ages eleven through sixty-four years at three locations throughout Somerset County. In addition, the group is providing the vaccine that prevents Meningitis to teens entering sixth grade and college-bound students who will be living in dorms, and still need the shot. A  $10.00 donation is requested for each vaccine.
                
 “While pertussis primarily affects children, more and more adults are being diagnosed, as their childhood vaccinations wane.  There is an even greater concern if the infected adult cares for or lives with infants less than twelve months old, who may not yet be fully protected,” said Cinthia Weaver, Branchburg Health Officer and Chair of the GSPHP.

Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a highly contagious disease involving the respiratory tract. It is caused by a bacterium that is found in the mouth, nose and throat of an infected person. It can be spread through the air, when the infected person coughs or sneezes on another, and close contact.

The Tdap vaccine will be available for ages eleven through sixty-four. For adolescents, the Tdap vaccine serves as the routine booster that is required before a student enters sixth grade.

The vaccine to prevent bacterial meningitis (a contagious and serious illness) is recommended for youth ages 11 – 21 years of age, and is most commonly given to adolescents entering 6th grade, or young adults entering college and planning to live in a dorm, where the risk for meningitis increases.  If a child was vaccinated in sixth grade, and will be living on a college campus in September, the meningitis vaccine is strongly recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as it will serve as a booster,” said Alyce Brophy, CEO of Community VNA. 

Further information about who is eligible to receive the vaccine can be found on the group’s website at www.greatersomersethealth.org, and residents are encouraged to discuss their immunization status with their healthcare provider.

Three community clinics, where both the Tdap and Meningitis vaccine will be available, are scheduled for the following dates:

Tuesday, May 3rd, 6:00 -8:00 pm in the Montgomery High School Cafeteria, 1016 Route 601, Skillman;

Tuesday, June 7th, 6:00 – 8:00 pm at Branchburg Central Middle School, 220 Baird Road Branchburg; and

Wednesday, June 15th, 3:00 – 6:00 pm in the Bernards Township Community Center, 289 South Maple Avenue in Basking Ridge. 

The clinics are open to those living in the greater Somerset County area, and appointments for any of these three clinics can be scheduled online, by following the above "Book Now" button or visiting www.greatersomersethealth.org, or by calling 908-204-2520.  If you have questions regarding whether or not your child should receive either of these vaccines, please contact your healthcare provider or the Community VNA at 908-725-9355.

Both Community VNA, based in Somerville, and the Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills are staffing the vaccination clinics.  Because of the American Recovery and Investment Act, each of these vaccines can be provided at very low cost to community members.  A donation of ten dollars per vaccine is requested.

The Greater Somerset Public Health Partnership sponsored the H1N1 vaccination clinics in the greater Somerset county area, vaccinating over 26,000 members of the greater Somerset County area.  Visit the GSPHP website at www.greatersomersethealth.org for more details.

ADULT HEALTH SCREENING CLINIC

FLYER

May 7th, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Hillsborough Municipal Building, All-Purpose Room
$15 - cholesterol, glucose, blood counts
$15 Extra for Prostate Cancer Blood Test - Men 50 to 70
Booths offering free foot exams, eye exams, etc.

By appointment, call 908-369-4313

"Meet Your Local Health Department" Session Planned for April 13th

Follow this LINK to go to Montgomery Township Health Department Press Release.

NJ AMERICAN WATER INFO RELEASE ON SALTY TASTING DRINKING WATER

Follow this LINK to go to Winter's Impact on Water Quality .

New Shared Services Arrangements with Hopewell Borough and Pennington Borough

Animal Control

Effective January 1, 2011, Animal Control Services for Hopewell Borough and Pennington Borough will be provided by Montgomery Township.  Residents in need of Animal Control or animal sheltering can call 908-359-4308 for service.

In an emergency—vicious dogs, animal cruelty, or potentially rabid animals—contact your local police, who will dispatch the Animal Control Officer.

Services available to residents include:

• Capture of stray animals
• Capture of suspected rabid animals
• Shelter care for lost and homeless animals
• Pet adoptions
• Free Rabies Vaccination Clinics for pets.
• Investigation of neglect and cruelty to animals
• Investigation of dangerous dog incidents
• Investigation of complaints

Public Health Services

Early in 2011, Public Health Services for Hopewell Borough and Pennington Borough will be transitioned to Montgomery Township. This Shared Service is expected to improve cost-effectiveness of essential service delivery in all three communities.

Montgomery Health Department is an award-winning Local Health Department committed to protecting our residents’ health. The Department has been recognized by the National Association of City and County Health Officials, the New Jersey Health Officers Association, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for its work with community partners and its leadership in H1N1 response.

“Montgomery Health Department is committed to providing high value service to the community,” said Stephanie Carey, Health Officer. “Our strategy is to follow evidence-based best practices to provide essential Public Health services throughout our area. We will work with key community stakeholders to make sure our program addresses the highest priority health needs of the community. We will host a series of ‘listening sessions’ this winter so that residents and business owners can give input and get their questions answered.”

Public Health Services to be provided under the agreement include:

• Public Health complaint investigations
• Sanitary inspection of retail food establishments, child care, and public swimming pools
• Rabies control
• Flu vaccination clinics
• Access to well baby clinics, immunizations, cancer and disease screenings, adolescent health, and chronic disease screenings
• Communicable disease investigation
• Health education programming
• Immunization audits
• Emergency preparedness and response

Residents will be able to access services by calling 908-359-8211, extension 227.   More information on services is available throughout the Health Department’s section of this website, www.twp,montgomery.nj.us. See below and links menu on left.

New Jersey Register Ready

Montgomery Township Health Department and Montgomery Township Office of Emergency Management is encouraging residents to sign up for the “New Jersey Register Ready” Registry. This registry is a safety net for residents who may find it difficult to evacuate during an emergency.  Residents with special needs or caregivers on their behalf can sign up at registerready.nj.gov.

The New Jersey Special Needs Registry is free, voluntary, and strictly confidential. It is designed to help people who may have difficulty during an evacuation because of physical or cognitive limitations, language barriers or lack of transportation.
Registering will help first responders, such as police, fire and rescue squad personnel, make the best use of limited time and resources to help people with no other options for evacuation during an emergency.   Residents without internet access can apply by printing out and mailing in to our Health Dept. this self-mailer form (CLICK HERE).  Please mail to:

Montgomery Township Health Dept.
2261 Rt. 206
Belle Mead, NJ 08502
Attn: Register Ready

Click on following title to read the Montgomery Health Dept. Privacy Practices Policy. For confidential help with registration, call 908-359-8211, extension 245.

What You Need to Know About Bed Bugs

FLYER

Bed bugs were once a common public health pest problem worldwide that declined in incidence through the mid 1900's. Recently bed bugs have undergone a dramatic resurgence and there are worldwide reports of increasing numbers of infestations. Bed
bugs are great travelers; they are readily transported via luggage, clothing, bedding and furniture.  They hide in seams of bedding, and other cracks and crevices in the home.

• Bed bugs are small insects that feed on blood, usually at night when people are sleeping.
• Bed bug bites are typically painless and rarely awaken a sleeping person. They can
  produce itchy red bumps or welts on the skin.

Although bed bugs are a nuisance to people, they do not spread disease. Shimmery shed skins, eggshells and bloodstains on linens are signs of an infestation. The most effective management of bed bugs is a combination approach that includes cleaning, disinfecting and removal of contaminated materials AND the use of a pest control professional.  For more information about how to control bedbugs, click here.

Are Your Children Covered by Health Insurance?
If not, follow this link to info on NJ Family Care Program, in English & in Spanish: 2010 Family Care Health Insurance Flyer