Cole County taking the lead on Mid-Missouri’s mass vaccination clinics
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Cole County is taking the reigns to coordinate the National Guard's mass vaccination clinics in the Mid-Missouri region.
Governor Mike Parson activated Guard troops last week to staff mass vaccination clinics in each of the Missouri State Highway Patrol regions.
The Cole County Commission approved a contract between the Cole County Health Department and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to be the Regional Implementation Team (RIT) for vaccine distribution at their Tuesday meeting.
"It is going to be a lot of work, but as we've seen over the last few days with helping to assist coordinating the Missouri National Guard vaccination clinics, this team is very much needed," Health Director Kristi Campbell said at the commission meeting. "And because no one else stepped up to do it in the region, we did."
Cole County/Jefferson City Office of Emergency Management Coordinator Sierra Thomas says her agency and the Cole County Health Department were tapped by the state to pilot the first clinics in the "F Region," which includes most of Mid-Missouri.
"We're centrally located which is great, and we have great working relationships with the EMD's in all those different regions as well as Kristi having good relationships with the public health departments," Thomas said. "So it makes sense. "
Thomas said the vaccination site will move throughout the region. The first is set to be in Audrain County, then it will move to Cole, and next down to Camden County.
The team is currently deciding on the locations of the clinics in those counties, Thomas said they are leaning toward an indoor venue instead of a drive-through method.
"Living in Central Missouri, the weather is always squirrely," Thomas said. "And the logistics of that when it comes to security or getting the vaccine in and then making sure the people that are about to get it are kept safe in a secure environment and we can keep an eye on them."
Another factor is traffic control. Thomas said one of the first National Guard clinics in southeast Missouri caused some traffic issues, something the team wants to avoid in Mid-Missouri.
The clinics will be up and running as soon as possible, according to Thomas, saying they expect things to move forward in the next two weeks.
Thomas said she is honored to be apart of the team to expand vaccinations in Mid-Missouri, after taking the lead position at the agency just about a year ago.
"I know there are so many people out there that are ready to get the shot and be down with it as much as possible," Thomas said. "So to be a part of that is pretty awesome."
