West Plains, MO. – With flu season quickly approaching, the Ozarks Healthcare Pharmacy is increasing convenience to flu vaccines by offering them at its three locations in West Plains and Thayer.
“Just as the fall weather landed quickly in the Ozarks, flu season will also be here before we know it,” Katie Mahan, Director of Ozarks Healthcare’s Pharmacy, said. “While COVID-19 cases do not currently seem to be as high of a threat than what we’ve seen over the past two years, flu strains in other countries are already showing to be taking a toll. Getting your flu vaccine before the end of October is the best form of protection from the flu.”
Flu vaccines are available at Ozarks Healthcare’s Pharmacy at 307 N. Kentucky Ave. and at 1100 Kentucky Ave. (inside Ozarks Healthcare’s main campus) in West Plains and at Ozarks Healthcare’s Pharmacy in Thayer at 1375 Nettleton Ave. by walk-in availability on most weekdays during hours of operation.
Seasonal flu vaccines are designed to protect against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all flu vaccines in the U.S. are “quadrivalent” vaccines, which means they protect against four different flu viruses: an influenza A(H1N1) virus, an influenza A(H3N2) virus, and two influenza B viruses. Individuals six months and older in the U.S. are recommended to get an influenza (flu) vaccine every season with rare exception.
For those 65 and older, three of the available flu vaccines may be more effective: the Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent vaccine, Flublok Quadrivalent recombinant flu vaccine, and Fluad Quadrivalent adjuvanted flu vaccine. Those in this age group are encouraged to visit with their primary care providers or pharmacists about these options. There is no preferential flu vaccine recommendation for people younger than 65 years.
All three Ozarks Healthcare pharmacies have regular and high-dose vaccines readily available. Businesses with at least 20 employees or more who are interested in receiving flu vaccines may also contact any of Ozarks Healthcare’s pharmacies to inquire about bringing vaccinations to onsite for added convenience.
Flu vaccines can also be administered at the same time as COVID-19 vaccines. Bivalent COVID-19 boosters are the latest authorized booster vaccines designed to protect against the prevalent Omicron variant of COVID-19.
Bivalent COVID-19 boosters are available at Ozarks Healthcare’s Pharmacy at 307 N. Kentucky Ave. in West Plains by walk-in availability on most Tuesdays. Individuals are asked to bring COVID-19 vaccination and insurance cards.
The Pfizer bivalent booster is currently authorized for ages 12 and older while the Moderna is currently authorized for 18 years of age and older. Individuals are eligible for the bivalent booster two months since their last primary or booster dose of Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson. (Ozarks Healthcare is not currently administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.)
As a reminder, two primary doses of Moderna are recommended for ages 12 and older, administered at least 28 days apart. A third dose of the Moderna vaccine may be administered for certain individuals 12 years and older with moderate to a severe immune compromise. Two primary doses of Pfizer are recommended for ages 12 and older, administered at least 21 days apart. A third dose of the Pfizer vaccine may be administered for certain individuals 12 years and older with moderate to a severe immune compromise. Age-appropriate primary doses of COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for those as young as six months. For specific guidelines for any age group, individuals are asked to contact their primary care provider or visit https://covidvaccine.mo.gov/facts/ for more information.
For more information about flu or COVID-19 vaccines, please call any of Ozarks Healthcare’s three pharmacies at 417-256-7533 (307 N. Kentucky Ave. location), 417-256-1793 (1100 Kentucky Ave. location), or 417-264-7115 (Thayer location).
