MySQL ALTER TABLE IF NOT EXISTS - I think so best alternative

mysq.alter.if.not.exists.alternative.sql

-- <TABLE NAME> replace to table name
-- <COLUMN> replace to column name

SELECT COUNT(*) INTO @exist FROM information_schema.columns 
WHERE table_schema = DATABASE() AND table_name = '<TABLE NAME>' AND column_name = '<COLUMN>' LIMIT 1;
SET @query = IF (@exist <= 0,
    "ALTER TABLE <TABLE NAME> ADD COLUMN <COLUMN> MEDIUMTEXT NULL",
    "SELECT 'COLUMN EXISTS: <TABLE NAME>.<COLUMN>' AS column_exists_info"
);
PREPARE stmt FROM @query;
EXECUTE stmt;