Saint Michael’s Medical Center to Offer Free Flu Shots at Satellite Campuses

NEWARK, N.J. –– Saint Michael’s Medical Center, in partnership with the City of Newark and the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, will provide free flu shots to adult Newark residents and uninsured senior citizens. Vaccinations will be offered at the Columbus Campus of Saint Michael’s Medical Center, located at 495 North 13th Street in Newark, on Saturday, December 13, from 9 a.m. to noon. A second vaccination event will be held at the hospital’s Saint James Campus, located at 155 Jefferson Street in Newark, on Saturday, December 20, from 9 a.m. to noon.

This is a free public health service, and supplies are limited. Vaccinations will be offered to Newark residents over the age of 18, and a separate supply of vaccinations is available for Newark residents over the age of 65 with either Medicaid or no health insurance. Proof of age and residency will be required.

Influenza is a serious respiratory condition with a high risk of complications, especially in people over the age of 50; those with chronic or long-term health problems such as heart or kidney disease, asthma or diabetes; and women who are pregnant during flu season.

“For the elderly and people with certain chronic illnesses, the flu and its complications can be life-threatening,” said Robert H. Evans, CEO of Saint Michael’s Medical Center. “All eligible community residents are encouraged to take advantage of the free flu vaccinations being offered at the Columbus and Saint James campuses this month.”

Established by the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor in 1867, Saint Michael’s Medical Center is a 357-bed regional tertiary-care, teaching and research center in the heart of Newark’s business and educational district. The Saint James Campus in Newark’s East Ward and the Columbus Campus in the North Ward deliver key non-acute services, including 24-hour emergency care. They serve as a “front door” to the inpatient, outpatient, and clinic services available at Saint Michael’s Medical Center. More information is available at www.smmcnj.org. Saint Michael’s is a member of Catholic Health East, a Catholic health system sponsored by 10 religious congregations and Hope Ministries, based in Newtown Square, PA. More information is available at www.che.org.