Boone County News Release

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Boone County Officials Participate in National Influenza Vaccination Week

January 13, 2010

What: Boone County and City of Columbia elected officials and business owners have been invited to participate in National Influenza Vaccination Week by getting their H1N1 vaccination. Northern Boone County Commissioner Skip Elkin and Boone County Clerk Wendy Noren will be available for pictures and interviews at 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., respectively.

Where: Mezzanine, Daniel Boone Building, 701 E. Broadway, Columbia

When: Friday Jan. 15, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Why: National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) is a national observance that was established to highlight the importance of continuing influenza vaccination, as well as foster greater use of flu vaccine after the holiday season into January and beyond. This year's NIVW is January 10 to 16, 2010.

Since the spread of 2009 H1N1 influenza is likely to continue into the new year, NIVW will be an important opportunity to promote uptake of 2009 H1N1 flu vaccination at a time when demand for vaccine usually drops significantly. While influenza is unpredictable, and while we do not know the likelihood of a future wave of H1N1 influenza, we do know that if more people are vaccinated, the disease is less likely to spread in the coming months.

For more information on National Influenza Vaccination Week go to http://www.cdc.gov/flu/NIVW/index.htm.

Free H1N1 vaccine is available to all residents Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the health department, 1005 West Worley in Columbia.

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