[Press Release] : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Health Department Announces Flu Clinic Dates

[Press Releases]

Media Advisory
September 23, 2010
 
Contact: Geni Alexander, Public Information Officer
573.874.7632 / 573.268.6265 or gaalexan at GoColumbiaMo.com 
-or-
Trina Teacutter, Nursing Coordinator
573.874.6303 or tdteacut at GoColumbiaMo.com 
 
Flu Vaccine Available at Health Department Next Week
 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends that anyone over 6 months of age be vaccinated each year against the flu. The Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services will host flu clinics on:
·         Monday,  September 27th from 2 pm – 7 pm
·         Tuesday, September 28th from 9 am – 1 pm
The clinics will be held at the health department, located at 1005 West Worley in Columbia. As we receive more vaccine, we will expand availability and offer flu vaccine on a walk-in basis. Health department nurses will also offer flu vaccine to children at Boone County elementary schools beginning in October.
 
This year, thanks to changes in state and federal funding, we are able to offer flu vaccine (nasal spray and the shot) FREE of charge to any child age 18 or younger. Flu vaccine is also free to all Medicaid and Medicare clients. Others 19 years of age and older will be charged $25. We accept cash, check or credit cards. Receipts can be given if requested. Pneumonia vaccine is also available.
 
This year’s vaccine protects against three flu strains that experts predict will circulate this year: an influenza B virus, an H3N2 virus and an H1N1 virus. Those who received the H1N1 vaccine last flu season (late 2009/early 2010) need to be vaccinated this fall with this season’s updated vaccine. 
 
For faster service, the required consent forms can be completed prior to arrival at the flu clinic. To download the forms, visit www.GoColumbiaMo.com ( http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/ ) and follow links to the health department’s flu page. 
An annual flu vaccination is your best protection from the flu. Over a 30-year period, flu-associated deaths nationwide have ranged from about 3,000 to 49,000 each year. According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) in 2008, more than 1,400 Missourians died from the flu and/or pneumonia. More flu information is available at www.FightTheFluMO.com ( http://www.fighttheflumo.com/ ). 
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