Missouri Gov. Mike Parson stopped by Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City today (March 30) while it was holding a COVID-19 vaccine clinic.
A Mercy Jefferson spokesperson said about 20 patients were at the clinic when the governor was there.
“Good to see these types of situations happening today,” Parson said. “I think they told me they're doing about 600 vaccines,” Parson said.
As of today, Mercy Jefferson had administered more than 18,000 vaccinations.
Mercy Hospital Jefferson President Eric Ammons said it was an honor to have the Governor visit.
“We appreciated the opportunity to show him the coordination and teamwork it takes to successfully vaccine hundreds of patients each day, and it was encouraging to hear the governor’s appreciation for what our co-workers are doing now with vaccine distribution and for the extraordinary efforts our co-workers have provided since the start of the pandemic,” Ammons said.
Health Department vaccine clinics
The Health Department expects to hold 14 vaccine clinics during April in the building it recently leased at 1275 N. Truman Blvd. in Festus, which previously housed a Schnucks store and before that a Shop ‘n Save store.
Health Department officials said they expect 21,200 first doses and 1,000 second doses to be administered at the clinics in April.
The first clinic will be Thursday (April 1), with the goal of giving out 1,000 Moderna first doses.
“We are grateful for partnerships with the Missouri National Guard, city of Festus and city of Crystal City,” Health Department Director Kelley Vollmar said. “Vaccinating a large number of residents in a quick time frame requires coordination and collaboration with community partners. We are fortunate to have excellent partners in our community committed to increasing vaccine distribution for eligible residents as soon as possible.”
Anyone who wants to get the vaccine through the Health Department must first sign up for it by completing an interest survey at jeffcohealth.org. Then, the Health Department will contact those people to make appointments when they’re eligible and vaccines are available for them. People without internet access may call the Health Department registration line at 636-789-8941.
Comtrea, which also offers health care services around the county, has vaccine clinics scheduled throughout April as well.
Nathanael Herbert, Comtrea’s marketing communications manager, said the agency plans to offer 400 second doses every Wednesday in Festus and Arnold, with 200 second doses given at each location.
Comtrea also gives all vaccines by appointment only and will contact people who have registered for the vaccine and who are eligible to receive it under the state’s distribution plan to set up the appointments. To register with Comtrea, visit comtrea.org/vaccine-inquiry.
Only those who are included in Phase 1A, Phase 1B Tier 1, Phase 1B Tier 2 and IB Tier 3 of the state’s vaccine distribution plan may receive the vaccines. However, the Health Department said it is still focusing on vaccinating those from the earliest three phases.
For more information about the state’s vaccine plan, go to covidvaccine.mo.gov.
Mercy also has created an online sign-up method to help distribute vaccines to those eligible under the state’s vaccination plan. To sign up with Mercy, go to mercy.net/MOVaccine.
Other hospital systems and pharmacies also are registering people for the vaccines.
To find a local vaccine site, visit vaccinefinder.org.
COVID-19 stats
The Health Department has reported a total of 21,035 COVID-19 cases since the first ones were reported in March 2020.
Of those cases, 1,337 have been connected to long-term care facilities.
A total of 235 COVID-19-related deaths have been reported since the pandemic began. Four new deaths were reported today, and the Health Department normally releases more details about newly reported deaths on Wednesdays.
