About 15 percent of Cole County's population has received at least a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccination, Cole County Health Department Kristi Campbell said Thursday.
Speaking during the county's weekly COVID-19 update, Campbell also asked that those who have not yet received the vaccine have patience because the vaccine supply is sorely limited.
It is encouraging, she said, that another vaccine is coming soon - the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine is to go before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration today.
Campbell emphasized the importance of receiving the second dose when it is scheduled.
"It's very important that you get the same vaccine in your second dose as your first dose," she said.
The second Pfizer dose is to be received 21 days after the first, and the Moderna vaccine requires the second dose 28 days after the first.
The new Johnson & Johnson vaccine is 85 percent effective in preventing severe disease and 66 percent effective in preventing symptomatic disease, said Dr. Randall Haight, vice president of medical affairs at Capital Region Medical Center in Jefferson City.
The two-dose vaccines were 95 percent effective against symptomatic disease, he said.
Cole County, along with the Missouri National Guard, is providing a mass vaccination event today - a second-dose event for those who received their first dose at a Feb. 5 vaccination event.
People should bring the white immunization card they received Feb. 5, Campbell said. If you have lost the card, there will be some available at the site - The Linc, 1299 Lafayette St. in Jefferson City.
Recipients must also provide another consent form.
The number of COVID-19 patients within area hospitals has fallen dramatically.
Capital Region Medical Center is down to about one or two COVID-19 patients per day after peaking at 45 patients in November, Haight said.
Staff are watching to see if there will be a surge in cases following gatherings for the Super Bowl, he continued.
Dr. Lenora Adams, regional vice president of medical affairs for SSM Health, said St. Mary's Hospital in Jefferson City had only one active COVID-19 case Thursday.
She reminded people to continue to maintain social distance and to stay at home if they are sick.
People who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and are recovering but continue to show long-term symptoms should see their primary care physicians about treating the symptoms, Adams said.
The most common long-term COVID-19 symptoms are fatigue, shortness of breath, cough, joint pain and chest pain.