Health officials encourage getting updated COVID, flu vaccines this fall

By Leah Rainwater

Although it may not feel like it, fall is just around the corner.

Typically, during the fall and winter months, health officials encourage people to get updated flu vaccines. And with the rise of COVID-19 cases within the past few months, officials are also encouraging people to get the recent COVID vaccine that came out about a week ago.

“So the vaccine is not a ‘live’ vaccine, it is inactive, so it gives you immunity,” said Jennifer Buch, clinic supervisor at the St. Joseph Health Department. “So, when you get the vaccine, say you get it in October, it gives you the highest peak of immunity during the highest peak of flu and COVID.”

Buch said getting both an updated flu and COVID vaccine will help with more than just prevention.

“It actually will help protect you from, not only that, but from hospitalizations and missed work, which is really important to people,” Buch said. “Also, it can protect you from, like if you have a chronic illness, such as cardiac conditions, immunocompromised, diabetes, those types of things.”

Skyler Emo is a nursing student at Missouri Western State University. She said she’s required to receive a vaccine for her career field.

“I do have to for work for the flu vaccine and when COVID came around, I got like two shots,” Emo said.

Emo said although she doesn’t particularly like having to get vaccinated every year, receiving a vaccine is something she said is important when it comes to ensuring safety and not passing diseases.

“Passing diseases, I do agree,” said Emo. “But, I feel like as long as you practice good hand hygiene and kind of cover your cough and stuff, that kinda helps, in my opinion.”

Buch said one misunderstanding about flu and COVID vaccines is that pregnant women shouldn’t get vaccinated.

“Actually, we encourage it, because it gives passive immunity to the baby,” Buch said. “So when they’re born, they’re born without immunities, but when you get your flu vaccine, that protects your baby from the flu virus.”

Buch confirmed that the case was the same when it comes to receiving a COVID vaccination as well.

Emo said she plans to continue to receive annual vaccinations for the health and safety of her patients.

“To me, I will get it because I’m protecting older people that I work with in the hospital,” Emo said. “But essentially to me, a vaccination, I feel like when you get it once, you’re already building an immunity to it because you’re already introduced it to your body.”

Buch said the vaccinations, especially flu vaccines, are encouraged annually because of the mutilations of the virus.

“It (the virus) changes yearly to kind of adapt to the host,” Buch said.

The St. Joseph Health Department will have its annual vaccination clinic at Civic Arena on Oct. 11, 2024.

The clinic will run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

In an emailed statement to News-Press NOW, the health department said anyone is able to receive updated vaccines during its upcoming clinic.

“A goal of Public Health agencies is prevention of illness and injury, and promotion of health in all aspects. Preventative vaccinations such as flu and COVID are an insurance covered preventative service, so the SJHD bills insurance providers for the service. The City of St. Joseph Health Department will ensure that all persons seeking flu and/or COVID vaccinations receive the desired immunization, regardless of insurance status, or ability to pay for the vaccine(s).”