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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 11-5-09
Walk-In Availability
The Health Department is now offering free H1N1 vaccine to pregnant women who are Boone County residents on a walk-in basis at our health department clinic, 1005 West Worley in Columbia.
Beginning Monday, November 9th, we will offer free H1N1 vaccine on a walk-in basis at our health department clinic (1005 West Worley in Columbia) to Boone County residents in the following narrow priority groups:
Walk-in hours are from 8 am - 4:30 pm, Monday-Friday. No appointment is necessary. Consent forms can be printed by clicking here.
Public Clinic Dates
We will host a public clinic at the health department (1005 West Worley in Columbia) and offer free H1N1 vaccine on Friday, November 13th from 2:30 - 6:30 pm for Boone County residents in the following narrow priority groups:
No appointment is necessary. Consent forms can be printed by clicking here.
Boone County's allotment of H1N1 vaccine is arriving in weekly shipments. We are still working to vaccinate Boone County residents included in the CDC-recommended narrow 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) are: | You should: |
| A pregnant woman | Contact your OB (or primary care provider) first. If they don't have vaccine AND you are a Boone County resident, vaccine is offered free on a walk-in basis at the health department, Monday-Friday from 8 am-4:30 pm. No appointment is necessary. Consent forms can be printed by clicking here. |
| A household contact or caregiver of a child under 6 months of age | Contact your primary care provider first. If they don't have vaccine AND you are a Boone County resident, a public clinic will be held on Friday, November 13th from 2:30-6:30 at the health department. No appointment is necessary. Consent forms can be printed by clicking here. |
| Age 6 months-4 years old | Contact the child's primary care provider first. If they don't have vaccine AND you are a Boone County resident, vaccine will be offered free on a walk-in basis at the health department, Monday-Friday from 8 am-4:30 pm. No appointment is necessary. Consent forms can be printed by clicking here. |
| Age 5-18 years old with a chronic medical condition | Contact the child's primary care provider first. If they don't have vaccine AND you are a Boone County resident, vaccine will be offered free on a walk-in basis at the health department, Monday-Friday from 8 am-4:30 pm. No appointment is necessary. Consent forms can be printed by clicking here. |
| A healthcare or EMS worker that provides direct patient care | Contact your employer. |
| Not included in one of these groups | Be patient. We are receiving weekly shipments of H1N1 vaccine and will continue to vaccinate based upon the CDC's recommended priority groups. As more and more vaccine arrives this fall, those priority groups will be expanded to include: pregnant women, household contacts and caregivers of children under 6 months of age, all children and young adults between the ages of 6 months and 24 years of age, persons age 25-64 with chronic medical conditions and all healthcare, EMS and first responders. |
PARENTS: We will offer 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.
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 13,800 doses of H1N1 flu vaccine in Boone County. The state of Missouri provided the following population estimates for those included in the CDC's narrow priority groups:
| Narrow priority group: | Estimated number of Boone County residents in group: |
| Pregnant women | 2,390 |
| Household contacts or caregivers of children under 6 months of age | 2,522 |
| Kids age 6 months-4 years old | 9,279 |
| Kids age 5-18 years old with a chronic medical condition | 3,282 |
| Healthcare and EMS workers that provide direct patient care | 4,740 |
| Total number of Boone County residents in narrow priority group | 22,213 |
| Percentage of narrow priority groups served with current vaccine supply | 62.1% |
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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