Health department offers free shingles vaccine clinics at 3 Springfield library locations

Susan Szuch, Springfield News-Leader
·2 min read

Residents 60 and older can get the shingles vaccine for free at clinics this May and June. The Springfield-Greene County Health Department will be running clinics at three Springfield-Greene County Libraries.

People must pre-register for an appointment by calling 417-864-1684. The vaccine is given as a two-dose series. Participants will get instructions on the day of their first dose about when to get the second dose.

There will be four clinics:

  • Tuesday, May 16, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell Ave., Room B;

  • Tuesday, May 23, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Library Station, 2535 N. Kansas Expressway, Stagecoach Room;

  • Tuesday, May 30, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Schwetizer Brentwood Branch, 2214 Brentwood Boulevard, community room;

  • Thursday, June 15, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Library Station, 2535 N. Kansas Expressway, Santa Fe Room.

More: Greene Co. residents who are 60 and older can receive free shingles vaccine

Shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chicken pox. Ten to 18% of people who get shingles will develop long-term nerve pain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and older adults are more likely to develop that pain. Other severe complications are rare but include blindness, hearing problems, pneumonia or brain inflammation.

According to the CDC, more than 99% of Americans born before 1980 have had chickenpox, placing them at an increased risk for shingles as they get older since the varicella zoster virus stays dormant in your body even after you recover from chickenpox.

While shingles cannot be passed to another person, someone who has never had chickenpox or has never been immunized against chickenpox can get it from someone who has shingles.

Susan Szuch is the health and public policy reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on Twitter @szuchsm. Story idea? Email her at sszuch@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Free shingles vaccine clinics set for May, June in Springfield