Influenza (flu) vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones against the flu and its potentially serious health complications. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu vaccines can:
- Reduce the risk of having to go to the doctor with the flu
- Reduce the severity of illness in people who get vaccinated but still get sick
- Reduce the risk of flu-associated hospitalization
- Protect pregnant people during and after pregnancy
- Protect people around you including those who are more vulnerable to serious flu illness
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Availability
Flu shots are available at the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center and we are able to schedule appointments so call us today to schedule your shot or catch us at one of our community flu clinic events.
Flu clinics are offered to the public during the months of October and November. Some clinics are drive-thru to allow getting the vaccine from the comfort of your car. Community clinic information can be found on our website calendar.
Cost
Commercial/Private Insurance, Medicare and Medicaid are billed for flu and pneumonia immunizations. For those without Commercial/Private Insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, the cost of the flu shot is $25.00 (please call for pneumonia pricing).
Pandemic Flu Planning
The best position during a flu pandemic is to be prepared. For individuals and our community at large, preparedness guidance can be found in the checklists below (PDFs). Please use them as a valuable resource to help prepare for an influenza pandemic.
Children Vaccine Exemptions
Immunizations are the best protection against serious diseases. Vaccines are safe and effective and were developed to protect individuals from dangerous and sometimes deadly diseases. If you are considering either of the two exemptions described below, please consider the following:
- Choosing not to immunize a child greatly increases the risk of getting serious diseases like pertussis, measles, mumps and chickenpox that can cause severe complications such as heart failure; difficulty breathing and swallowing; brain damage; and deafness.
- Children who are not immunized can transmit vaccine-preventable diseases throughout the community to babies who are too young to be fully immunized or to others who cannot be immunized for medical reasons. Exposure to any vaccine-preventable disease could be fatal.
- To protect inadequately vaccinated individuals and the entire community, unimmunized children could be excluded from child care during disease outbreaks. Exclusion from care can cause a hardship for the child and parent, however no exceptions are made, regardless of the circumstances.
- It is unlawful for any child to attend child care unless the child has been immunized or unless the parent or guardian has signed and filed a Parent/Guardian or Religious Immunization Exemption.
Parent/Guardian Exemption
An exemption can be filed for selected vaccines or for all vaccines. Parents and guardians should indicate which required vaccines are being exempted from on the Parent/Guardian Immunization Exemption form. The exemption must be completed and filed with the child care center administrator annually.
Claiming this exemption represents a parent or guardian’s objection to immunizing against vaccine preventable diseases. Actively choosing not to immunize a child by claiming an exemption is a parent’s right; however, it carries significant responsibility. Immunizations may save your child's life and has an impact on the safety of others.
| Parent/Guardian Exemption Form |
Religious Exemption
A religious exemption can be filed for selected required vaccines or for all required vaccines. Parents and guardians should indicate which required vaccines are being exempted from on the Religious Immunization Exemption form. The exemption must be completed, signed by the parent or guardian and placed on file with the school immunization health record.
Claiming this exemption represents a parent or guardian’s belief that the family’s religious preference does not support immunizing against vaccine preventable diseases. Actively choosing not to immunize a child by claiming a religious exemption is a parent’s right; however, it carries significant responsibility. Immunizations may save your child's life and has an impact on the safety of others.
| Religious Exemption Form |
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COVID, Flu, and RSV Immunizations for all three viruses are available at the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center—please see Update Alert about availability. |
PDFs
Links
