Your Body, Your Business:
Getting Vaccinated for Your Personal Protection is Not a Public Debate
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Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak across the U.S. in late January of 2020, ever-changing information about the disease, safety measures, and vaccine efficacy has stirred fear and uncertainty. The facts remain: more than 760,000 lives have been lost to COVID-19 and vaccines remain the strongest and safest defense against the virus.
Your body is your business and it’s important to remember that your health decisions are yours alone to make. As misinformation continues to spread, discussing concerns with a care provider you trust can help you make the decision that’s right for you.
There are several ways for adults to find a free COVID-19 vaccine:
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Search for vaccine appointments at Vaccines.gov, where you can search for availability by vaccine type.
- Call the CDC's COVID-19 vaccine hotline at 1.800.232.0233 (or TTY 1.888.720.7489). Help is available in multiple languages.
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Locate local vaccination events in Missouri at MOStopsCovid.com.
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Seniors and homebound adults can make arrangements using information at MOStopsCovid.com/seniors.
#GetTheShot
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Need a Ride?
Missouri offers several programs to assist those in need of rides to and from COVID-19 vaccinations. Learn more about transportation assistance to local COVID-19 vaccination appointments:
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COVID-19 Vaccine Mythbusters
“COVID-19 vaccines were rushed, so they can’t be safe.”
COVID-19 vaccines were made using a method that has been in development for years. This technology was created specifically to help vaccine makers respond quickly to a new pandemic illness.
“The ingredients in the COVID-19 vaccines are unsafe, change your DNA, and/or cause COVID-19."
The FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines contain mRNA and other normal vaccine ingredients including fats, salts, and a small amount of sugar.
- mRNA from the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines enters cells for the sole purpose of causing the cell to make protein to stimulate the immune system, then quickly breaks down.
- mRNA does not enter the nucleus of the cells, where DNA resides, and does not affect your DNA.
- This mRNA technology has been in development for more than two decades, does not contain the virus, and cannot give you the virus.
- None of the authorized vaccines contain eggs, metal, fetal tissue, implants, or microchips.
"I got my first shot, I don’t need the second."
A small but concerning share of people have purposely skipped the second dose of their Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, with some citing the fear of harmful side effects. However, reported side effects have been mild to moderate and disappear quickly.
Ultimately, enduring a few days of discomfort greatly outweighs the real possibility of dying a preventable death. To date, more than 760,000 Americans have lost their lives to COVID-19.
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Don't Forget Your Flu Shot |
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While it's important to defend yourself against the COVID-19 pandemic, it's equally important to stay up to date on other vaccines as well. As flu season approaches, make sure to protect yourself with a flu shot.
Influenza (flu) is a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Every flu season is different, and flu can affect people differently, but millions of people get flu every year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and thousands to tens of thousands of people die from flu-related causes every year.
Flu can mean a few days of feeling bad and missing work or it can result in more serious illness. Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.
An annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to help protect against flu. Vaccination has been shown to have many benefits including reducing the risk of flu illnesses, hospitalizations and even the risk of flu-related death in children. While some people who get a flu vaccine may still get sick, flu vaccination has been shown in several studies to reduce severity of illness.
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This Holiday Season, Don't Suffer in Silence |
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The pressures of the holidays are difficult for everyone. Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, isolation has mentally and emotionally affected people of all ages. Young children have experienced whiplash between various forms of in-person and virtual schooling, while grandparents have been cooped up in care facilities.
For those who have recovered from addiction, or are actively struggling with a substance use disorder, the holiday season can be especially troubling. The stress is often amplified and the surroundings can be a harsh reminder of the very things that could have driven substance use in the first place – such as loneliness, financial issues, or unresolved family conflict.
Mental illness and substance use disorder cooccur and each increase the risk for long-lasting physical health problems. Similarly, the presence of chronic conditions can increase the risk for mental illness.
Mental health is an important component of our overall health. It includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being and affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices.
Raising mental health awareness can help you to understand your symptoms, find professional treatment, and, perhaps most importantly, break the mental health stigma that leaves so many people suffering in secret.
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If you’ve been struggling silently, there’s help. Missouri has expanded Medicaid (called MO HealthNet) to cover adults 19 to 64 years old. This coverage includes support for things like mental wellness, and addiction and recovery help.
Even if you have not qualified previously, check again: the rules have changed. Find out if you qualify and receive help enrolling (help is also available in Spanish):
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After Losing Her Home in a Fire, HCC Offered a Hand Up |
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This GivingTuesday, HCC Asks for Your Support |
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“It was on Christmas Day – the kids were outside playing, saw smoke, and came running inside the house.”
For many, the joyful holiday season may conjure the smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls or the sound of church choirs caroling. In warm, still homes, crisp evergreen trees await decoration and the soft glow of twinkling lights.
For one Lexington resident, however, Christmas memories are clouded by chaos, crimson flames, thick smoke, and gray ash. Several years ago, on Christmas Day, Kathy Meierer lost her home in an electrical fire. She immediately called 911 and rushed her family to safety, leaving her children’s presents behind as they turned to dust.
In the immediate emotional aftermath of the fire, HCC Network was able to restore some Christmas spirit. The organization gifted Meierer with a Walmart gift card, allowing her to replace her family’s lost presents. Through HCC’s warehouse, she received hygiene items, blankets, and other immediate necessities.
When she eventually settled into a new house, she received a fridge and some furniture through the warehouse as well. With a hand up from HCC and the support of her neighbors, Meierer was able to eventually get into a new home and back on her own two feet.
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GivingTuesday is a global movement celebrating the power of generosity. What began as a simple day of kindness has since become an annual day of charity, encouraging people around the world to give what they can.
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Learn more about how donations to HCC, including donations to their supply warehouse, directly help families like Meierer’s in the community: |
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Diabetes Management and Prevention Programs
Dec. 1, 2021
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Honor and Support Alzheimer’s Caregivers This November |
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November is National Family Caregivers Month. Caregivers of loved ones with dementia work countless unpaid hours for a thankless job, one that brings overwhelming emotions and challenges.
This November, honor a caregiver in your life by extending support. For those wondering how to help a caregiver, the Alzheimer's Association suggests you:
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Learn: The more you know about Alzheimer's, the easier it will be to help.
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Build a care team: Organize friends and family who want to help coordinate tasks.
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Give caregivers a break: Spend time with the person living with dementia to give their caregiver an opportunity to recharge.
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Check in: Many caregivers report feeling isolated or alone. Be sure to help them feel supported.
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Tackle the to-do list: Ask for a list of errands or chores and knock them out.
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Be specific and flexible: Specific offers, such as "I'm making dinner tonight," can be more helpful than open-ended offers like, "What do you need?"
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Help for the holidays: Offer help in a variety of ways including cooking, cleaning, shopping, or hosting.
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Join the fight: Get involved in the fight to end Alzheimer's.
As dementia progresses, care costs continue to change. The Alzheimer’s Association (AA) recommends putting financial plans in place at the time of diagnosis to best prepare for the future as insurance may not cover all costs.
The AA Greater Missouri Chapter’s Caregiver Relief Program includes Care Consultations which take a whole-person, whole-family approach to creating a customized, comprehensive needs assessment. The result is an individualized action plan to address unmet needs and link caregivers with a cadre of resources and community support. The Caregiver Relief Program also reimburses caregivers up to $700 for qualified respite-related services.
Contact the 24/7 Helpline for a free Care Consultation at 800.272.3900 or click below.
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Advocate for Rural Health as an HCC Member |
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HCC members receive the following benefits:
- Monthly membership luncheon.
- Networking opportunities.
- Free advertising on our website.
- Employment listings through our career site.
- HCC committee participation — Social Services, Connectors, Project Connect.
- Enrollment help with Affordable Care Act, Medicaid and expanded Medicaid, Medicare, Food Stamps & Presumptive Eligibility, Disability, and Unemployment.
- Low-cost medication, chronic disease prevention, and management classes.
- HCC warehouse access to items that can’t be purchased with food stamps.
Members also receive preferred pricing for:
- Grant writing.
- Health training — CPR, First Aid, etc.
- On-site health screenings — blood pressure, height, weight, cholesterol, blood sugar.
Virtual membership meetings are held via Zoom — attend from the convenience of home or work!
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