Vaccines protect you and your loved ones from preventable diseases. They are proven to be safe and effective. They can prevent serious illness, and they may be required for school, work, travel or home.

Use this guide to make sense of the most common vaccines. If you have any questions, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about which vaccines are right for you.

Vaccine availability may change. Call Stephens Pharmacy at 417-326-2416 or your primary care clinic to learn more about receiving your vaccinations.

Who: Everyone 6 months and older.

How often: Annually. You may receive the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines at the same time.

Where: Stephens Pharmacy and CMH primary care clinics. See details below.

Why: The flu vaccine can reduce flu illnesses, doctor’s visits, and missed work and school. It also makes symptoms less severe and reduces flu-related hospitalizations and deaths.

CDC influenza vaccine recommendations for the 2024-25 season

Who: Everyone 6 months and older.

How often: The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends one dose in fall/winter 2024 and will update the guidance as needed. You may receive the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines at the same time.

Where: Stephens Pharmacy and CMH primary care clinics.

Why: To protect against serious illness from the COVID-19 virus. Serious illness can cause hospitalization or death.

CDC COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for the 2024-25 season

Who: All adults 50 and older. Adults 19 and older who have a weakened immune system because of disease or treatments.

How often: Once through a two-dose series. The second dose usually is given 2 to 6 months after the first dose. You may receive the shingles vaccine and others at the same time.

Where: Stephens Pharmacy and primary care clinics.

Why: Shingles is a painful skin rash, usually with blisters. It can lead to severe complications, such as pneumonia, hearing problems, blindness, brain inflammation, or death. The same virus that causes chickenpox also causes shingles. The chickenpox virus stays in your body and can cause shingles later in life.

CDC shingles vaccine recommendations

Who: Children younger than 5 and all adults 65 and older.

How often: Once for adults 65 and older. You may qualify to receive an additional dose due to recent vaccine updates. Young children receive a series of four vaccines (as recommended by your child’s doctor).

Where: Stephens Pharmacy and CMH primary care clinics.

Why: Pneumococcal disease is common in young children, but older adults are at the greatest risk of serious illness and death. Infections caused by the streptococcus virus can range from ear and sinus infections to pneumonia and bloodstream infections. The vaccine helps protect against serious complications, such as hospitalization and death.

CDC recommendations

Who: Everyone starting as infants.

How often: Every 10 years for adults. Children and teens receive a series (as recommended by your child’s doctor).

Why: The vaccine prevents tetanus, an infection caused by Clostridium tetani bacteria. The vaccine also protects against other diseases. Tetanus can cause serious health problems, including broken bones, lung infections, breathing difficulty and death.

Where: CMH primary care clinics.

CDC tetanus vaccine information

Who: Everyone 75 and older; 60-74 if at an increased risk of severe RSV. Infants and young children also can receive protection against RSV with monoclonal antibody products.

How often: At this time, the CDC recommends a single dose.

Where: Stephens Pharmacy and CMH primary care clinics.

Why: RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) infection usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Infants and older adults are more likely to have severe complications from the virus and end up in the hospital. The recently approved RSV vaccine is more than 80% effective in preventing lung infections due to RSV during the first RSV season after vaccination.

CDC RSV vaccine recommendations