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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 10, 2005

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

After hours FluMist* clinics scheduled at the Health Department									
	(COLUMBIA, MO) - The Columbia/Boone County Health Department will offer FluMist* to residents free of charge during after-hours clinics on Tuesday, Jan. 11, and Tuesday, Jan. 18, from 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. at the new Health Department location on West Worley Street. FluMist* is also available at the Health Department during regular clinic hours Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.  
	FluMist* is a vaccine which protects against the influenza virus and is administered through the nose (in the form of a nasal spray). This vaccine has been proven to be equally as effective at preventing the flu as the flu shot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has now expanded eligibility guidelines for FluMist* to include all people who meet the medical/age requirements. Residents do not need to meet any high-risk criteria to receive the FluMist* vaccine. FluMist* has been approved for healthy children and adults between 5 and 49 years.  

	Because FluMist* does contain a weakened version of a live flu virus, the following people should not consider getting FluMist*:
*	Adults over 50 years and children under 5 years
*	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.
	The 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. 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 are not available through the Health Department at this time. For more information, call (573) 874-7356.

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