Free flu shot clinics will be held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the Aquatic Mezzanine of the Student Recreation Complex from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the first three weeks of November. The first three will be held in MizzouRec. The last event, on Nov. 16, will be in the Student Center. 

COVID-19 vaccinations and booster shots will be available at the clinics. Boosters are being given to those who received their last shot a minimum of six months ago for Pfizer and Moderna recipients, or two months for Johnson & Johnson recipients. Additionally, they are available to those with pre-existing conditions or jobs in health care. 

If you live in a dorm room, you may also qualify for a booster shot on the basis that dorms are classified by the CDC as high-risk, institutional living situations.

 According to the CDC, “People aged 18–64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may get a booster shot after considering their individual risks and benefits.” 

MU policy on booster shots aligns with that of the CDC. What exactly constitutes an “individual risk or benefit” is not specified by the CDC, butMU Student Health staff assisting with your shot can answer any specific questions regarding qualification for booster shots. 

Dr. Laura Morris, an MU Health Care physician, said she believed this year’s influenza season will be different from last year’s unusual pattern. Last year, flu rates were lower than normal due to precautions taken to prevent COVID-19. 

Morris said right now is “heavy influenza vaccination season” even though the typical flu season in Missouri starts in late winter. She cited actions such as returning to in-person classes and a decrease in mask usage as potential causes for flu rates returning to normal patterns. 

“This year in particular we anticipate that we will go back to a more typical pattern and see many more cases of influenza than we did last year because of the changes in our behaviors,” Morris said. 

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Missouri saw 1,795 cases by the time the 2020-2021 flu season was wrapping up. Current statistics for the 2021-2022 flu season show there have already been at least 152 confirmed cases in Missouri in October, which is close to the amount of confirmed cases around this time last year. The Kaiser Family Foundation reported that 50.2% of Missouri residents have already received a flu shot. 

Several students attended the second clinic on Oct. 19 to receive their flu shot, including freshman Olivia Harmon. 

“I think just by doing the right thing — by the majority of us getting vaxxed — that’s going to help lower the chance of anyone getting so sick they’re going to die,” Harmon said. “I just want the least amount of deaths possible because we deserve that. Not just COVID, but the flu too. Just get vaxxed.” 

Juniors Chloe Keith and Alex Espinda and senior Avery Renshaw made an outing of the event and got their shots together. 

“It was totally fine, not painful,” Keith said. “Just walked in, the nurse was super nice, I got the shot — it was super fast — then we left.” 

Espinda said he was especially concerned that the attention on COVID-19 vaccines may make people forget to get their flu shots. 

“This year we’ve been really emphasizing the COVID-19 vaccine, just because of that herd immunity,” Espinda said. “So if we’re going to raise awareness of that vaccine to such a high level, we need to be making sure we get all vaccines. Especially for those really contagious diseases like flu.” 

Morris said there are many ways for students to avoid getting the flu and stay healthy this winter, but one of the most important methods is vaccination.

“Getting vaccinated is by far the easiest and one of the most effective ways to prevent [getting the flu],” Morris said. “Things that we’re doing right now to still help protect us from spreading coronavirus will help protect us from spreading flu, like washing our hands, keeping your distance and wearing a mask.” 

Students can take advantage of the future flu clinics on campus or visit a nearby pharmacy, including Hy-Vee, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, and others listed on https://www.como.gov/covidvaccine/ to receive their flu vaccination.  Specific dates and times can be accessed at the Show Me Mizzou website. 

Edited by Emmet Jamieson | ejamieson@themaneater.com