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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 27, 2004

CONTACT: Heather Baer
Columbia/Boone County Health Department
(573) 874-7632

Flu Mist* eligibility guidelines expanded: Health Department to hold clinics throughout Boone County
							
	(COLUMBIA, MO) - The Columbia/Boone County Health Department, in cooperation with area grocery stores, will offer FluMist* to residents at six clinics to be held during the week of Dec. 27. FluMist* is a vaccine which protects against the influenza virus and is being offered by the Columbia/Boone County Health Department free of charge. FluMist* is administered through the nose (similar to a nasal spray) and has been proven to be equally as effective at preventing the flu as the flu shot.
 	Due to this year's flu shot shortage, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had previously required that only those people who met high-risk criteria could receive FluMist*. However, the eligibility guidelines for FluMist* have now been expanded to include all people who meet the medical/age requirements. FluMist* has been approved for healthy children and adults between 5 and 49 years of age.  
	Because FluMist* contains a weakened version of a live flu virus, the following people should not consider getting FluMist*:

*	Adults over 50 years of age and children under 5 years of age
*	People who have long-term health problems, including heart, kidney, lung, 	
anemia and metabolic disease (such as diabetes)
*	People who have asthma
*	People who have blood disorders
*	People with a weakened immune system due to disease or long-term treatment
*	Children or adolescents on long-term aspirin therapy
*	Pregnant women
*	Anyone with a history of Guillain-Barré Syndrome or active neurological disease
*	Anyone who has had a serious allergic reaction to eggs or a previous dose of influenza vaccine
	Eligible residents may receive FluMist* free of charge from 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. during the following clinics:
Tuesday, Dec. 28	
Hy-Vee, 3100 West Broadway (Columbia)
Gerbes, 2900 Paris Road (Columbia)
Wednesday, Dec. 29	
Prenger's Foods, 275 East Singleton Street (Centralia)
Gerbes, 205 East Nifong Boulevard (Columbia)
Thursday, Dec. 30	
Moser's, 109 Eastside Drive (Ashland)
Hy-Vee, 3100 West Broadway (Columbia)

	The Columbia/Boone County Health Department encourages all eligible residents to take advantage of these opportunities to become protected from the flu.  Flu rates typically peak in January and February each year. Getting a flu vaccine in December or even later is beneficial in most years. Last year, children and young adults 
accounted for the highest number of flu cases in Boone County. Children and young adults were also the populations with the lowest flu vaccination rates in Boone County.
 	Flu shots will not be offered during the clinics mentioned above. Flu shots are available at the Columbia/Boone County Health Department for high-risk residents only as long as supplies last. For more information, call (573) 874-7356.

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