New COVID-19 bivalent booster vaccine will also be available to adults

MU Health Care is offering drive-thru flu shot events at South Providence Medical Park in October.

The events will offer car-side flu shots to adults and kids 6 months and older on Saturday Oct. 8, Oct. 15, Oct. 22 and Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. The new COVID-19 bivalent booster vaccine is also expected to be available, supplies permitting, to those 12 and older. For children who have not been vaccinated, the primary COVID-19 vaccine will be available for those six months and older.

Patients are asked to wear loose clothing and short sleeves if possible; this is especially important for young children who will get the shot in the thigh. All patients should bring an insurance card and will be asked to review and sign a consent form before receiving a vaccination in their vehicle. MU Health Care employees should bring their badge and anyone with a COVID-19 vaccination card is encouraged to bring it.

“Each year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized with the flu in the United States, and a vaccination offers protection to keep you and your loved ones from becoming seriously ill,” said MU Health Care vaccine co-chair and family medicine physician Laura Morris, MD. “Our drive-thru vaccination events have become extremely popular over the past two years, and we are excited to bring them back again in October with the option of receiving a COVID-19 vaccination as well.”

The drive-thru events are just one of several vaccination options available to patients:

• Parents of children 6 months and older can contact their pediatrician or family doctor’s office.
• MU Health Care and the David B. Lichtenstein Foundation will offer free flu shots to children enrolled in Columbia Public Schools.
• Patients who have established care with an MU Health Care provider can make an appointment to receive a flu shot.

For more details about the drive-thru and additional services, visit muhealth.org/flu.