Due to low demand, the Cole County COVID vaccination site at Capital Mall will only be open two days a week starting May 24.
At Tuesday's Cole County Commission meeting, Cole County Health Department Director Kristi Campbell said the new hours would be 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Mondays and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursdays beginning May 24.
Until then, she said, the site will be open 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Thursday.
"As the supply of vaccine is increasing, demand is decreasing," Campbell said. "That's happening across the nation. Many places across town are now offering the Pfizer vaccine, and that's part of the reason the demand at our site is down."
On Tuesday, Walmart, Sam's Club and Gerbes all announced they would offer COVID vaccinations on a walk-in basis.
During their first week of operation last month, the county site performed around 1,600 vaccinations. The second week logged 741 vaccinations; last week, 346 were vaccinated.
Any Missouri resident 16 and older can receive a COVID-19 vaccination at the Cole County site, where Party City had been on the south side of the mall.
"We got some feedback that for high school students 16-17 years old it was hard for them to get to the site in time to get vaccinated," Campbell said. "Other pharmacies and stores in town have the Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines, and those can only be given to people 18 and older. The Pfizer vaccine, which we have, can be given to those 16-17."
Campbell said there had been 19 positive COVID cases reported in the county in the last seven days.
"The vaccines don't prevent you from getting COVID, it prevents you from having a more severe case of the virus," Campbell said. "People just need to consult with their doctor if they are worried about either the vaccine or the virus."
The vaccination site is a collaborative partnership between the County Commission, the County Health Department, Capital Region Medical Center, the Community Health Center of Central Missouri, Jefferson City Medical Group, SSM-St. Mary's Health Center and the Missouri National Guard.
Campbell noted the Guard is revising its COVID strategy, and she believes they will lose their support after June 1. The site is scheduled to be open through July 30.
Under the agreement signed by the County Commission setting up the site, Cole County will pay the parties $40 per hour per person for vaccination services. Invoices will be paid monthly. The total amount shall not exceed $150,000 unless the agreement is amended to include additional amounts.
The commission then signed a short-term lease with Capital Mall for the space; the lease is for $10,000 a month. It will be paid through federal funds the county is receiving for COVID-19 relief. There are no fees to be vaccinated.
While walk-ins are welcome, Campbell said making an appointment will make the process go quicker.
To make an appointment at the site, visit covidvaccine.mo.gov/navigator/ and register through the COVID-19 Vaccine Navigator provided by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. If you don't have internet/computer access, you can call 1-877-435-8411 to register and schedule an appointment.