Branson, MO (September 22, 2010)-\u00a0 Since 1950, when Skaggs Regional Medical Center opened its doors, safety of the community and its patients has been top priority.\u00a0 Starting 13 years ago Skaggs introduced to Taney and Stone Counties drive-thru flu shot clinics.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese clinics allowed community members easy access to a vaccine that had limited inoculation sites,\u201d says Connie Meier, Skaggs Infection Control Practitioner.\u00a0 \u201cOver the past 13 years accessibility has changed.\u00a0 Now you can find influenza vaccine in physician\u2019s offices, county health departments and retail pharmacies.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the past two years Skaggs Regional Medical Center has seen a decline in its number of flu shots administered during the donation drive-thru clinics,\u201d says Michelle Leroux, Skaggs Media Relations Specialist.\u00a0 \u201cThis caused us to re-evaluate the need for this event.\u00a0 With the increased availability of influenza vaccine at numerous sites, we know our community is being adequately served.\u201d<\/p>\n
Skaggs Regional Medical Center is providing flu shots for $15 at three special walk-in clinics:<\/p>\n
* Forsyth Medical Care, 13852 U.S. Hwy 160; Friday, October 8, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
\n* Branson West Medical Care, 18452 State Hwy 13; Wednesday, October 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
\n* Skaggs Southside Family Clinic, 590 Birch Rd., Suite 1-C, Hollister; Thursday, October 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.<\/p>\n
Skaggs clinics will also have ample supply of influenza vaccine to offer their patients.\u00a0 Call your primary care provider to schedule an appointment.<\/p>\n
Influenza (the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.\u00a0 It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death.\u00a0 Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications.\u00a0 The best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated each year.<\/p>\n
In 2009-2010, a new and very different flu virus, called 2009 H1N1, spread worldwide causing the first flu pandemic in more than 40 years.\u00a0 During the 2010-2011 flu season, the CDC expects the 2009 H1N1 virus to cause illness again along with other influenza viruses.\u00a0 The 2010-2011 flu vaccine will protect against 2009 H1N1 and two other influenza viruses.<\/p>\n
This flu season the CDC recommends everyone six months and older should get a flu vaccine each year starting with the 2010-2011 influenza season.\u00a0 While everyone should get a flu vaccine each flu season, it\u2019s especially important that certain people get vaccinated either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live or care for people at high risk for developing flu-related complications.\u00a0 This group includes children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old; adults 65 years of age and older; pregnant women; and anyone who may have a chronic medical condition.<\/p>\n
Individuals who should not be vaccinated without first consulting a physician include people who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs; people who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination in the past; people who developed Guillian-Barre\u2019 syndrome (GBS) within six weeks of getting an influenza vaccine previously; children younger than six months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for use in this age group); and people who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever should wait to get vaccinated until their symptoms lessen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Branson, MO (September 22, 2010)-\u00a0 Since 1950, when Skaggs Regional Medical Center opened its doors, safety of the community and its patients has been top priority.\u00a0 Starting 13 years ago Skaggs introduced to Taney and Stone Counties drive-thru flu shot clinics. \u201cThese clinics allowed community members easy access to a vaccine that had limited inoculation […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"yes"},"categories":[16,22,7,13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/broadcast.branson.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3561"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/broadcast.branson.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/broadcast.branson.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/broadcast.branson.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/broadcast.branson.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3561"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/broadcast.branson.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3561\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/broadcast.branson.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3561"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/broadcast.branson.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3561"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/broadcast.branson.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3561"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}