Fanwood Residents Could Receive Three Flu Shots This Year

Fanwood residents can expect a lot of sore arms this September, thanks to the flu. 

With the H1N1 flu causing widespread concern, Fanwood Councilman Anthony Parenti said that as many as three flu inoculation shots could be made available to borough residents this fall, depending on the circumstances.

In addition to the flu shot for the strain of flu expected to begin this September, residents will also be offered a shot for the H1N1 flu, commonly referred to as the swine flu. Throw in the fact that some people haven’t shaken the flu from last fall, and that could produce a third shot, if necessary. 

Resident David Pickering first raised the issue of the flu shots at the June 9 council meeting.

There are a couple of factors that could determine how many shots the borough offers, including whether the H1N1 vaccine will be ready by the start of the flu season. 

The H1N1 vaccine will be provided “if they have it ready by then,” Parenti said during a telephone interview on Monday, Jan. 15. “They’re not sure about that yet.”

The other determining factor will be the status of last year’s flu.

“The flu season is over and they’re still getting this year’s flu,” Parenti said, referring to people who are still suffering from the flu that originated last fall. “If it’s still hanging around, then it means you’re going to get three shots. If it’s gone, then there will only be two.” 

Flu shots aside, Parenti urged caution regarding the flu. 

“For some reason, a lot of people are thinking, ‘Well, now that summer is here, it’s all over,’ but it’s not,” said Parenti, who represents the borough council on the board of health, where he heard of the possibility of three shots being offered.

“We’re still hearing of schools closing and people getting both types of flu, the swine flu and the regular flu that was supposed to have disappeared, but is still with us," he added. "The same rules still apply. Keep your hands clean, avoid contact, and stay home if you’re sick. That’s the biggest thing, from what I understand. The quickest way to spread this is person to person. It’s not hard for a person to get into a confined space, such as a classroom, an airplane, anywhere that’s a confined space. If one person has it, they can contaminate the entire area that they are in.”