A recent Jefferson County Health Department vaccination clinic.
For many people, the COVID-19 vaccine represents the light at the end of a dark and lonely year.
Christian Hayes, clinical systems manager for Comtrea, which provides health care services in and around Jefferson County, said administering vaccines has been one of the “happiest moments” in her nursing career.
“You have individuals coming in and they’re here to receive a vaccine they have been hoping for since the start of COVID last year and the start of talks about trials,” she said. “So being able to be a nurse and administer those vaccines individually, makes me extremely happy.”
According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, a total of 1,818,433 doses have been administered statewide and 646,978 people have completed vaccinations.
According to DHSS, 18.5 percent of St. Louis County residents have at least had their first vaccine dose, with a total of 282,584 doses being administered.
On Monday, Phase 1B Tier 3 of the state’s COVID-19 vaccination plan opened and includes those who work in education, childcare, communications, information technology, transportation, water and wastewater systems and other critical infrastructure fields.
Lisa Rothweiler, chief operating officer for Comtrea, a Federally Qualified Health Center, said the agency held its first vaccine clinic on Feb. 5.
As of March 12, Comtrea had given a total of 5,033 doses to community members, and the Jefferson County Health Department had given a total of 5,900 doses.
Nathanael Herbert, marketing communications manager for Comtrea, encourages everyone who is eligible under the state’s COVID-19 vaccination plan to fill out an interest form on its website at comtrea.org/vaccine-inquiry.
To receive the vaccine from either Comtrea, the St. Louis County Department of Public Health or the Jefferson County Health Department, a person must sign up and wait to be contacted for an appointment. Anyone who wants to get the vaccine from the Department of Public Health must first sign up for it by completing a survey at stlcorona.com/covid19-vaccines.
Anyone who wants to get the vaccine through the Jefferson County Health Department must first sign up for it by completing an interest survey at jeffcohealth.org. Then, the Health Department will contact people who sign up to make an appointment.
People without internet access may call the Jefferson County Health Department registration line at 636-789-8941.
Hayes said she hopes people will get their vaccine when they are eligible.
“Getting the vaccine and wearing a mask is just that one initiative we can do, not only to protect yourself, but to protect the people you care about and the people around you,” she said.
Hayes said she received her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on January 14 and the second dose on February 4. “Whenever I am giving vaccines to individuals at the vaccine center, I always let them know that I have had my vaccine and this is what happened to me and I feel like that eases (them).”
For 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.
