As the Cole County Community Central Vaccination Site in Jefferson City prepares to reduce hours to two days a week, health care providers are finding out-of-the-box ways to get vaccinations into arms.
County health leaders discussed the challenges getting people vaccinated for COVID-19 during their weekly update Wednesday afternoon.
The Central Missouri Community Health Center is partnering with the Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri and with United Way of Central Missouri to get vaccinations to folks who don't have transportation, said Crystal Sullivan, the health center's chief medical officer.
Sullivan said the center is distributing the Moderna vaccine at mobile food pantry sites in May, and it will provide the booster shot (required in four weeks) at the same locations on the same days in June.
The vaccines will be available at these pantry locations in May:
- 1:30-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Trinity Lutheran Church, 13007 Route C, Russellville
- 9-11 a.m. May 15, Capital West Christian Church, 1315 Fairgrounds Road, Jefferson City
- 4-6 p.m. May 19, Boys & Girls Club, 1105 Lafayette St., Jefferson City
- 4-6 p.m. May 26, St. Martin Catholic Church, 7148 St. Martins Ave., St. Martins
"If you are going to be attending one of these pantries and intend to get the vaccine, please visit our mobile unit," Sullivan said.
Recipients will be asked to stay for 15 minutes so they may be observed for reactions to the vaccine.
The Cole County site has seen a decrease in vaccinations, Cole County Health Department Director Kristi Campbell said.
Presiding Commissioner Sam Bushman added there are vaccinations available at Jefferson City Walgreens pharmacies, the Hy-Vee Pharmacy, Gerbes pharmacies and at Walmart West.
"You can get your shot while you're shopping," Bushman said.
"Vaccines are readily available in several locations," Campbell said. "Many locations are offering them seven days a week without appointments. Whichever vaccine you're seeking, you should be able to find it."
New hours for the Cole County vaccination site are 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursdays.
On May 24, the site is to reduce to two days a week - 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Mondays and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursdays.
St. Mary's Hospital reported it is down to about one or two COVID-19 patients a day.
And Capital Region Medical Center is down to between zero and five patients a day. This week, it had only had two COVID-19 patients.
Continuing efforts to reach more people with the vaccination, Jefferson City Medical Group staff attended a Building Community Bridges event at East Miller Park on April 24, said Director of Medical Services Ron Rockwood. Nine people received vaccinations at the event.
Rockwood said the group will return to provide second vaccinations May 22.
However, the site may move to the BCB building, 213 E. Ashley St., said Alicia Edwards, BCB executive director. That has yet to be determined.
For those who show up May 20, but haven't received the first dose of the Moderna vaccine, vaccinators anticipate they'll have the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine available, Rockwood continued.
He added JCMG continues to offer walk-in service for vaccines and testing, but fewer and fewer people are asking for those services.