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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><FONT face=Calibri>For Immediate Release<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>September 28, 2009<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: right" align=right><FONT face=Calibri size=3>Contact: Geni Alexander, Public Information Officer</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: right" align=right><FONT face=Calibri size=3>573.268.6265 or </FONT><A href="mailto:gaalexan@GoColumbiaMo.com"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>gaalexan@GoColumbiaMo.com</FONT></A><FONT face=Calibri size=3> </FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>Walk-In Flu Vaccinations Start Today<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></I></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>The Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services clinic is now offering flu vaccinations on a walk-in basis. The clinic is located in the health department building at 1005 West Worley and is open Monday – Friday from 8 am – 4:30 pm. Flu vaccine is available for $25 and pneumonia vaccination is available for citizens age 65 and over for $40. The health department accepts cash, check or credit cards. Medicaid and Medicare clients will receive the vaccinations at no charge. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><BR><FONT face=Calibri size=3>For faster service, the required consent forms can be downloaded and completed prior to arrival. To download the forms, visit </FONT><A href="http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>www.GoColumbiaMo.com</FONT></A><FONT face=Calibri size=3> and follow links to the health department’s flu page. </FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>The seasonal flu vaccine will not protect against H1N1 flu. An H1N1 vaccine is currently in production and we hope to offer a fully-approved vaccine later this fall. In Boone County, we are working hard to ensure that the H1N1 vaccine will be available in a combination of settings. We will distribute vaccine to health care providers throughout the county. Individuals who are unable to receive the vaccine from their primary care physician can attend public flu clinics sponsored by the health department. Those clinics will be similar to the public flu clinics we offer each year for seasonal flu vaccine. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>For more information regarding H1N1 flu, visit </FONT><A href="http://www.fighttheflumo.com/"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>www.FightTheFluMO.com</FONT></A><FONT face=Calibri size=3>. Boone County residents can email their flu questions to </FONT><A href="mailto:flu@GoColumbiaMO.com"><FONT face=Calibri size=3>flu@GoColumbiaMO.com</FONT></A><FONT face=Calibri size=3>. </FONT></P>
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