Time to get your flu shots

Nodaway County residents may get the flu vaccine at the following Maryville locations: Hy-Vee Pharmacy, 1217 South Main, The Nodaway County Health Center, 2416 South Main, Rogers Pharmacy, 125 East South Avenue, SSM Health St. Francis Hospital, 2016 South Main, Walgreen Drug Store, 1114 South Main, and Walmart Pharmacy, 1605 South Main.

According to Tabitha Frank, public health nurse, it’s important for children to be vaccinated. Flu shots are recommended for individuals six months of age and older. When children are vaccinated, they don’t become ill and this allows their parents to continue working, the child doesn’t miss school and the illness is not spread, she said. It’s important to protect younger children with flu shots because they haven’t been exposed to many viruses.

If a child hasn’t had a vaccination and is eight or younger, there is a series of two shots spaced 28 days apart. This means the child won’t have immunity for six weeks after taking the first shot.

Frank recommends that individuals get the vaccination as soon as possible as it takes two weeks for the shot to work. Flu vaccines are made to last the entire flu season, October to May, each year.

One of this year’s flu vaccines is a quadrivalent vaccine. It contains four different flu strains, two A and two B. The high dose vaccine, recommended for adults over 65, is a trivalent vaccine. All the vaccines are preservative free.

“The single best way to prevent the flu is to get the vaccine,” Frank said.

The Nodaway County Health Center will have a nurse available for flu vaccinations from 9 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday, in October.

Individuals seeking vaccinations should bring their insurance card. The health center can bill most companies and Medicare. If an individual has insurance with a non-covered insurance carrier, the cost is a $20 suggested donation. The health center will provide a receipt which can be submitted to insurance. A children’s flu shot clinic will be from 9 am to 6 pm, Friday, October 28. Otherwise, call 660.562.2755 for an appointment.

St. Francis will host walk-in clinics from 8 to 11:30 am and 1 to 4:30 pm, Monday-Friday, for individuals ages six months to adult who have been seen by a St. Francis physician within the last year.

There will be a special clinic from 8 to 11 am, Saturday, October 8 for flu shots. St. Francis carries pediatric vaccines, Flurix for those ages three to 65 and high dose for those ages 65 and older.

Hy-Vee’s pharmacy is open from 8 am to 8 pm, Monday through Friday, 9 am to 6 pm, Saturday, and 9 am to 4 pm, Sunday.

Quadrivalent and high dose vaccines are available for those age 65 and over. Hy-Vee can administer vaccinations to individuals ages 12 and over. Bring your insurance or Medicare part B cards as Hy-Vee can bill major insurance companies. If not billing insurance, the cost is $37.99 for the quadrivalent and $64.99 for the high dose.

Rogers Pharmacy is open 8 am to 6 pm, Monday-Friday, and 8 am to 2 pm, Saturdays.

The pharmacy can give flu shots to those age 12 and older. Rogers will bill most insurance companies. If not billing insurance, the cash price is $25.

Walgreen’s clinic is open from 8 am to 8 pm, Monday through Friday, 9 am to 6 pm, Saturday, and 10 am to 6 pm, Sunday.

Walgreen’s has the trivalent and quadrivalent vaccines. The pharmacy is expecting to receive the high dose trivalent for those ages 65 and over.

Walgreen’s can give flu shots to children ages nine to 11 with a doctor’s prescription. Individuals ages 12 and up do not require a prescription.

Walgreen’s can bill most insurance companies including Medicare, Medicaid and VA. The cash price for the vaccination is $31.99.

Wal-Mart’s clinic hours are from 9 am to 9 pm, Monday through Friday, 9 am to 7 pm, Saturday, and 10 am to 6 pm, Sunday.

Wal-Mart has high dose trivalent and Afluria trivalent flu vaccines. Wal-Mart can give flu shots to individuals ages 12 and over, however, for those using Medicaid, Wal-Mart can only give vaccinations to individuals 18 and older. The cash cost is $54.97 for the high dose vaccination. Trivalent is $20. Individuals should bring insurance cards and call ahead if they have questions or want other vaccinations.