After one year of COVID-19 cases in the county, the Jefferson County Health Department expects on April 1 to hold the first COVID-19 vaccination clinic in the building it recently leased at 1275 N. Truman Blvd. in Festus, said Kelley Vollmar, the agency’s director.
The building previously housed a Schnucks store and before that a Shop ‘n Save store.
Vollmar said the goal is to vaccinate 1,400 people at the April 1 clinic.
She said the Health Department plans to hold clinics in the 60,000-square-foot building four days a week.
Appointments are required to receive vaccinations.
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 an appointment when they’re eligible and a vaccine is available for them. People without internet access may call the Health Department registration line at 636-789-8941.
Anniversary
Today (March 23) marks one year since the first COVID-19 cases were reported in Jefferson County – a man in his 60s, a woman in her 60s and a woman in her 70s.
Since the start of the pandemic, a total of 21,780 cases have been reported in the county.
Of those, 1,337 cases have been connected to long-term care facilities.
A total of 231 deaths had been reported as of today, including two new deaths reported this week. The Health Department is expected to release details about those two deaths on Wednesday (March 24).
The county is still in the yellow status on the Department’s COVID-19 warning system.
Yellow is the second lowest level on the four-color system and indicates minimal to moderate transmission of the virus, according to the Health Department.
Despite the recent lower number of new COVID-19 cases, health officials say it’s still important to take precautions to limit the spread of the virus, like avoiding crowds, wearing masks, practicing social distancing and frequent hand-washing and staying home when you are sick. They also recommend getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
Other vaccine providers
Comtrea, which also offers health care services around the county, has upcoming vaccine clinics, too, including one on March 30.
Nathanael Herbert, Comtrea’s marketing communications manager, said 400 vaccines will be provided at that clinic.
He said starting in April, Comtrea will 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.
