Frequently Asked Questions

Rockaway Township provides a regular Child Health Conference, which includes a vaccination program and exams by a licensed physician. Eligibility requirements include the following: Participants must be between the ages of two months and 18 years, participants must be eligible for the federally funded Vaccines for Children program, participants must have no health insurance, or health insurance that does not cover immunizations. For more information on child health services, please call the Division of Health at 973-983-2848.

Yes. Scientific studies have shown that even a newborn baby’s immune system can safely handle several immunizations at one time. Combination vaccines, which have been used for decades and may offer several scheduled vaccinations in one shot, may protect your child from a number of different diseases.

In New Jersey, there are stringent laws that require laboratories and physicians to report a number of infectious diseases to the local health authority. Health officials, in turn, must investigate each reportable disease and may contact a sick or previously sick individual to complete State-mandated reporting requirements. These investigations are always done by the health authority responsible for the geographic area where a sick individual resides. Such investigations are performed to comply with State law, but also are done to ensure that proper control measures may be put in place, outbreaks may be averted, and disease trends may be monitored. Local public health nurses, health officers and environmental health specialists may become involved in this mandatory reporting, and are always grateful when residents cooperate with these requirements, as outlined in State Statute.

Per New Jersey law, a child must receive a number of immunizations to attend child care or school. The Division of Health’s public health nurse audits the records of each child care center and school located in Rockaway Township. If a child is found to be deficient in meeting these State requirements, the child’s parents are given 2 weeks to obtain the vaccine. If the child is not immunized within 2 weeks, laws state that the child is to be excluded from school. The State established these vaccine requirements both to protect the unvaccinated child from contracting a communicable disease, and to protect other children with religious or medical vaccine exemptions from receiving a potentially serious disease. New Jersey does permit legitimate medical and religious exemptions to these vaccination requirements, so some children may be vulnerable to serious infectious diseases.

The Division of Health provides influenza and pneumonia immunizations to residents during the fall and early winter months. Some age and medical restrictions apply, so please be sure to call the Division of Health at 973-983-2848 with any questions or for more information.

The Division of Health, through the Department of Community Services, sponsors Yoga, Tai Chi, Arthritis Exercise and Therabands programs for older adults. These exercise programs are offered in the Spring and Fall. Class size is limited and registration is required. Registration packets may be obtained at the Division of Health, located at the Rockaway Township Municipal Building. For information, call 973-983-2848.

There are some health screenings and programs that are available for free or at a substantially reduced cost to Rockaway Township residents. In addition, the Division of Health can provide information on some State-sponsored services addressing the health needs of underserved or uninsured residents. For more information, please contact the Division of Health Office at 973-983-2848.