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Columbia, Mo. - The Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services is now offering flu vaccine to anyone age 6 months and older. Flu vaccine is available Monday – Friday from 8 am – 4:30 pm at our clinic, located at 1005 West Worley. No appointment is needed; walk-ins are welcome.

This year, thanks to generous support from University of Missouri Children’s Hospital, the David B. Lichtenstein Foundation, Boone Electric Community Trust and Boonslick Kiwanis Club of Columbia, we can provide free seasonal flu vaccine (injectable and FluMist®) to all children age 6 months – 18 years. For adults age 19 and older, cost of the injectable vaccine is $25 ($30 for high-dose vaccine for persons age 65 and older). FluMist® is $30 and can be given to healthy non-pregnant people age 2-49 years. We accept a wide variety of insurance, including: Medicaid, Medicare Part B, Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, CIGNA, Coventry, Humana, Medicare Railroad, UMWA and United Healthcare. Our clinic accepts cash, check and debit/credit cards. Receipts can be given upon request.

Funding and support from the community organizations will also allow public health nurses to conduct flu clinics in participating Boone County elementary and middle schools this fall. The school-based clinics will begin in early October; exact dates and times will be announced at a later date. Parents who have questions about their school’s participation should contact their school nurse.

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) in 2009, more than 1,300 Missourians died from the flu and/or pneumonia. “Getting a flu vaccine every year is your best protection from the flu”, said Stephanie Browning, Public Health and Human Services Director. “We encourage anyone over the age of 6 months to be vaccinated, especially if you have chronic medical conditions, are over the age of 65 or will spend time around a newborn during flu season.”

Over a 31-year period, flu-associated deaths nationwide have ranged from about 3,000 to 49,000 each year. For more information on the flu, please visit www.cdc.gov/flu.