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The flu is here, but we can protect our families and our community this flu season. For more information, please visit www.FightTheFluMO.com It will take all of us working together to "Fight the Flu."
Questions? Email us at flu@GoColumbiaMO.com
UPDATED 11-20-09
Boone County's allotment of H1N1 vaccine is arriving in weekly shipments. We feel like we have done a satisfactory job vaccinating those in the CDC-recommended narrow priority groups and are ready to begin vaccinating Boone County residents (that includes students) in the CDC-recommended broad priority groups. Please use the following chart to determine if you fall into a priority group and where you can find vaccine IF YOU ARE IN A PRIORITY GROUP.
| If you (or your child) live in Boone County and: | You should: |
| Are pregnant | Contact your OB (or primary care provider) first. If they don't have it, vaccine is offered free on a walk-in basis at the health department, Monday-Friday from 8 am-4:30 pm. Preservative-free injectable vaccine will be offered while supplies last. No appointment is necessary. Consent forms can be printed by clicking here. You can read the Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) ahead of time by clicking here. For directions to our clinic, click here. |
| Live with or care for a child under 6 months of age | Contact your primary care provider first. If they don't have it, vaccine is offered free on a walk-in basis at the health department, Monday-Friday from 8 am-4:30 pm. We do not have FluMist available; walk-ins will receive the injectable vaccine. We only have preservative-free vaccine for children under three years old and for pregnant women. No appointment is necessary. Consent forms can be printed by clicking here. You can read the Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) ahead of time by clicking here. For directions to our clinic, click here. |
| Are between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old (UPDATED) | Contact your child's primary care provider for vaccine availability first. Also, school-aged children who attend school in Boone County have the option of receiving vaccine from health department nurses at our school-based vaccination clinics. Please contact your school nurse for details. People in this age group who attend college should check with their Student Health Center for vaccine availability. If it is not available at any of those locations, vaccine is offered free on a walk-in basis at the health department, Monday-Friday from 8 am-4:30 pm. We do not have FluMist available; walk-ins will receive the injectable vaccine. We only have preservative-free vaccine for children under three years old and for pregnant women. No appointment is necessary. Consent forms can be printed by clicking here. You can read the Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) ahead of time by clicking here. For directions to our clinic, click here. |
| Are between the ages of 25 and 64 years old with a chronic medical condition (UPDATED) | Contact your primary care provider first. If they don't have it, vaccine is offered free on a walk-in basis at the health department, Monday-Friday from 8 am-4:30 pm. We do not have FluMist available; walk-ins will receive the injectable vaccine. We only have preservative-free vaccine for children under three years old and for pregnant women. No appointment is necessary. Consent forms can be printed by clicking here. You can read the Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) ahead of time by clicking here. For directions to our clinic, click here. |
| Are a healthcare or EMS worker (includes fire, police and other first responders) (UPDATED) | Contact your employer. If they don't have it, vaccine is offered free on a walk-in basis at the health department, Monday-Friday from 8 am-4:30 pm. We do not have FluMist available; walk-ins will receive the injectable vaccine. We only have preservative-free vaccine for children under three years old and for pregnant women. No appointment is necessary. Consent forms can be printed by clicking here. You can read the Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) ahead of time by clicking here. For directions to our clinic, click here. |
| Are not included in one of these groups | Your patience is appreciated. We are receiving weekly shipments of H1N1 vaccine and will continue to vaccinate based upon the CDC's recommended priority groups. As more vaccine arrives this fall and we've met the demands of the narrow and broad priority groups, we will offer vaccine to the general public. |
PARENTS: We are offering the vaccine free at all Boone County public schools and several private schools as well. Those school-based clinics will be scheduled as vaccine shipments continue to increase throughout the fall. Your child will bring the required consent form home, as well as the Vaccine Information Statements (VIS). You can also read them now - click here for the flu shot, here for the mist.
ESPANOL: Haga clic aquí para los formularios de consentimiento de Spanish.
inyección contra la infl uenza VIS
Other counties might distribute the vaccine differently, but in Boone County, we are working hard to ensure that vaccine will be available in a combination of settings. As vaccine supply allows, the health department will offer public flu clinics, much like we do each year for seasonal flu vaccine. Those clinics might be limited to certain priority groups at first.
To date, we have received 27,000 doses of H1N1 flu vaccine in Boone County. The following table shows population estimates for those in the CDC's broad priority groups:
| Broad priority group: | Population Estimate : |
| Pregnant women (Source: MO DHSS) | 2,390 |
| Household contacts or caregivers of children under 6 months of age (Source: MO DHSS) | 2,522 |
| Kids and young adults 6 months - 24 years old (Source: MO DHSS) | 61,283 |
| Adults age 25-64 years old with a chronic medical condition (Source: MO DHSS) | 32,836 |
| Healthcare and EMS workers (Source: MERIC) | 6,293 |
| Total number of Boone County residents in broad priority groups | 105,324 |
| Percentage of broad priority groups served with current vaccine supply | 25.6% |
Want to know more about the H1N1 vaccine? Find out how it's made, why there's a delay and where you can find vaccine by watching this 2-minute CDC video.
Questions? Email us at flu@GoColumbiaMO.com
UPDATED 10-27-09
The only seasonal flu vaccine we have remaining is for children age six (6) months thru 35 months. The vaccine will be offered to children on a walk-in basis at the health department clinic, Monday-Friday from 8 am-4:30 pm. No appointment is necessary. Supplies are limited. Click here for other available locations.
We are working with Local Public Health Agencies from across the state to provide all Missourians with accurate and up-to-date H1N1 flu information through a grassroots campaign called Fight the Flu. Click here to learn how to protect yourself, protect your family and protect your community.
Questions? Email us at flu@GoColumbiaMO.com
According to the Centers for Disease Control, every year in the United States, on average:
Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), are at high risk for serious flu complications. The Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services strongly encourages residents to protect themselves and their family by getting a flu vaccine.
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Symptoms of the flu include:
Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year.
Flu viruses spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.
The Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services offers seasonal flu clinics in September and will continue to vaccinate throughout the influenza season. Outbreaks can happen as early as October, while influenza activity usually peaks in January or later.
In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated. Certain high-risk people should be vaccinated yearly, including:
There are two types of vaccines:
About two weeks after vaccination, antibodies develop that protect against influenza virus infection. Flu vaccines will not protect against flu-like illnesses caused by non-influenza viruses.
Each year the vaccine changes based on surveillance and predictions about which virus strains will circulate. By being vaccinated, your body develops immunity to those strains.
The flu shot cannot give you the flu because the viruses are inactivated. Minor side effects can include muscle aches and a low-grade fever. The viruses in the FluMist vaccine are weakened and do not cause severe symptoms often associated with influenza illness. Side effects of the nasal spray vaccine could include headache, runny nose, sore throat and cough.
Anyone who wants to reduce their risk of the flu should be vaccinated. Individuals at high risk include adults 50 years or older, children 6 months- 5 years old, pregnant women, and those with chronic disease. All women who are pregnant or breastfeeding during influenza season receive the flu shot.
There is a small fee for the influenza vaccine. Unfortunately, we cannot bill private insurances however we will bill Medicaid and Medicare. If you qualify, please bring your card with you. Cash or check will be accepted for payment.
In addition to being vaccinated, there are other practices that can help reduce the chance of getting the flu. This includes avoiding close contact with people who are sick, staying home from school or work when you are sick, covering your mouth and nose when you are coughing or sneezing and washing your hands thoroughly and frequently with soap and warm water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Questions? Email us at flu@GoColumbiaMO.com
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