Millville — It’s National Influenza Vaccination Week, a national observance created to highlight the importance of receiving a flu shot as well as promoting greater use of flu vaccine after the holiday season, and the Cumberland County Health Department is stepping up its efforts to encourage everyone to get the H1N1 (swine) and/or seasonal flu vaccine.

This year’s national observance continued through Jan. 16 when one of the many goals is to encourage hesitant or unsure individuals to get vaccinated against H1N1.

The county Health Department has planned regional H1N1 clinics to administer first and second doses to the community. The department is now able to vaccinate individuals outside of the original priority group and has also opened the clinics to any Cumberland or Salem county resident who would like the vaccine.

Although it’s January, health authorities say it’s not too late to get vaccinated as the flu virus may continue for several weeks or months yet.

“Therefore,” says a department official, “now is a good time to get vaccinated for influenza, whether for 2009 novel H1N1 or seasonal influenza. And while supplies of seasonal vaccine are more limited than H1N1, some providers may still have it.

“It is crucial that residents take the opportunity to protect themselves and their loved ones from the flu and receive the H1N1 vaccine while supply is available,” emphasizes Herb Roeschke, public health coordinator for Cumberland and Salem counties.

“Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the flu.”

For more information about the regional H1N1 clinics in this area, visit www.cshealth.org or call 327-7602.