The Importance of the Flu Shot

Flu season is coming up soon and why not prepare yourself and your family? According to the CDC, influenza activity tends to increase in October and November. Central Ozarks Medical Center is offering free flu shots at a few of our health clinics at the Lake of the Ozarks. Keep reading for the important event details and reasons why you should get your flu vaccinations.

Central Ozarks Medical Center Flu Shot Fairs

Upcoming Flu Fairs:

COMC Richland: October 5th

Medical Center Main Entrance

304 W Washington, Richland

7am—12pm & 1pm—4pm

COMC Camdenton: October 12th

Main Entrance

948 E US Hwy 54, Camdenton

8am—12pm & 1pm –4pm

COMC Osage Beach: October 12th

Main Entrance

3870 Columbia Ave, Osage Beach

8am—12pm & 1pm—4pm

• No appointments necessary

• Short intake form can be

completed on day of fair

• First Come/ First Served

Why Get a Flu Shot?

According to the CDC:

Influenza is a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people differently, but millions of people get the flu every year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and thousands or tens of thousands of people die from flu-related causes every year. An annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to help protect against flu. Vaccination has been shown to have many benefits including reducing the risk of flu illnesses, hospitalizations and even the risk of flu-related death in children.

CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against influenza and its potentially serious complications.

While there are many different flu viruses, flu vaccines protect against the 3 or 4 viruses that research suggests will be most common. Three-component vaccines contain an H3N2, an H1N1 and a B virus. Four component vaccines have an additional B virus component. (See Vaccine Virus Selection for this season’s vaccine composition.)

Flu vaccination can reduce flu illnesses, doctors’ visits, and missed work and school due to flu, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations.

Flu vaccination also has been shown to significantly reduce a child’s risk of dying from influenza.

Also, there are data to suggest that even if someone gets sick after a vaccination, their illness may be milder.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/consumer/prevention.htm

COMC: Leading the Way to Healthier Communities

We truly believe in leading the way to healthier communities, one step at a time. Several recent studies have found that patients who regularly use community health centers, like Central Ozarks Medical Center, have lower total annual healthcare costs when compared to patients who use other primary care providers, such as HMOs, hospital outpatient units or private physicians. On an average, these studies show that the cost associated with using a community health center is 22% to 33% less expensive than using other healthcare models. Check out our website at www.CentralOzarks.org for more information on local Camden County health clinics.

Central Ozarks Medical Center

Keeping Lack of Insurance From Being a Roadblock to Quality Healthcare