The following information is provided by the Morris Township Health Department. As noted below, additional information may be found on the Morris Township website, www.morristwp.com. Questions pertaining to the information provided are to be directed to the Township of Morris. Contact information for the Township is available on the Township website.

Letter from Morris County Office of Health Management Letter to Parents, October 30, 2009

(Spanish Version)

Morris Township Health Department
October 28, 2009

Departamento de Salud de Morris Township

Dear Parents/guardians:

As you may have heard, a new influenza virus, called Novel Influenza A (H1N1) virus, was first identified in the United States in late April 2009.  The virus has caused illness ranging from mild to severe.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has recommended that children and young adults aged 6 months through 24 years be vaccinated against 2009 H1N1 as soon as the vaccine is available.  Local Health Departments and your health care provider will have access to this vaccine by early November. The H1N1 vaccination program is voluntary.

Vaccination is the best way to protect your child from this potentially serious disease. The Township of Morris Health Department will hold vaccination clinics beginning this November at the Morris Township Municipal Building, 50 Woodland Avenue, Morris Township, on the following dates and times:

School age children between the ages of 5 to 18 years

November 6, 2009; (Fri.)  1 PM – 4 PM
November 9, 2009; (Mon.)  4 PM – 7 PM

Young children between the ages of 6 months to 59 months

November 16, 2009:  (Mon.)  4 PM – 7 PM

More clinic dates will be added as vaccine becomes available.  Children 6 months to 9 years of age will need two doses of vaccine spaced at least 21 to 28 days apart.  There will be no cost to you for this vaccine.

For more information on the vaccine and the H1N1 vaccination high risk priority groups please go to the Township of Morris Municipal web site (under the heading " H1N1 Flu Information") at  www.morristwp.com   To help expedite registration at the clinics; the 2 consent forms are also on this website. The intranasal vaccine consent form is only for healthy people between the ages of 2-49 years who are not pregnant. The injectable consent form is for all others. Please download and fill out the consent form before coming to the clinic and bring it with you.   

Additional clinics will be offered through November for the high risk target groups not mentioned above.  As clinic dates are confirmed, information will be distributed through the Morris County Office of Health Management web site at www.morrishealth.org , the Township of Morris Municipal web site at www.morristwp.com , and the Morris County Daily Record.

Please visit the CDC’s 2009 H1N1 influenza web site at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ and also http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/parents for information especially for parents. Your child’s health care provider also can answer your questions about the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus and will be able to give your child the seasonal influenza vaccine and may be able to give your child the 2009 H1N1 vaccine.