Health Archives

City of Centralia appoints new police chief Monday night

November 22, 2021 2:57 PM Zach Boetto

The Centralia city government appointed Harlan Hatton as the new police chief during its board of aldermen meeting Monday night.

All adults in Missouri now able to get COVID-19 booster shots

November 19, 2021 8:35 PM Katie Greathouse

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Missourians 18 years or older are now eligible to get a COVID-19 booster vaccine. The state health department amended orders Friday to authorize a single booster dose for adults. Both the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention authorized and endorsed the boosters Friday. Fully vaccinated

Waning vaccine immunity and rising infections due to the Delta variant has prompted wealthy nations to reconsider the definition of "fully vaccinated" from coronavirus.

DHSS adds breakthrough infection data to COVID-19 dashboard

November 18, 2021 9:22 PM Leila Mitchell

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) statewide COVID-19 dashboard is publishing new data that it finds from “breakthrough infections.” DHSS reports the vaccine remains a strong defense against the virus, and that older age and health co-morbidities are strongly correlated with the “breakthrough infections.” According to DHSS and the Missouri Hospital

MU Health Care to move pediatric emergency services to University Hospital on Tuesday

November 16, 2021 5:46 AM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) MU Health Care will move its pediatric emergency services to University Hospital on Tuesday. Any child who needs pediatric emergency services will now need to visit University Hospital near Downtown Columbia. Matthew Robinson, an MU Health Care emergency physician, said in a press release the new location will still offer the same

Missouri passes 50% of residents fully vaccinated

November 13, 2021 8:31 PM Hannah Falcon

Over half the state of Missouri is now fully vaccinated, and the state health director says he’s turning his focus to the unvaccinated half.

Rural mid-Missouri hospitals could feel impacts of COVID-19 vaccine mandate

November 10, 2021 3:58 PM Deborah Kendrick

By January 4, nearly 17 million healthcare workers will have to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

MU Health Care opens appointments for pediatric coronavirus vaccines

November 4, 2021 9:40 PM Zach Boetto

MU Health Care says it will offer COVID-19 vaccinations to kids ages five to 11 starting Nov. 10.

WEDNESDAY UPDATES: Boone County reports lowest number of active coronavirus cases since late June

November 3, 2021 6:40 AM ABC 17 News Team

Check back here for updates on the COVID-19 pandemic in Missouri.

Jefferson City voters approve public safety sales tax

October 27, 2021 6:33 PM Chanel Porter

Jefferson City voters will have the opportunity next Tuesday to vote on approving or rejecting a quarter of one percent sales tax to improve public safety.

TUESDAY UPDATES: Boone County reports 31 new coronavirus cases; 240 active cases

November 2, 2021 6:49 AM ABC 17 News Team

Check back here for updates on the COVID-19 pandemic in Missouri.

Missouri Attorney General files lawsuit to stop vaccine mandate for federal contractors

October 29, 2021 1:22 PM Zachary Farwell

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Attorney General’s Office has filed a lawsuit to stop a vaccine mandate for federal contractors. According to the 12-count lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Executive Order 14042 issued by the White House on Sept. 9 violates the rights of federal contractors.

Cancer screenings decline during coronavirus pandemic

October 26, 2021 11:36 AM Hannah Falcon

Breast cancer screenings decreased by 87%, according to the CDC, and cervical cancer decreased by 84%. The study published by the CDC shows the decline correlates with the increase in COVID-19 cases at the beginning of the pandemic.

Boone County and Jefferson City set to host drug take back events

October 23, 2021 3:33 AM Ben Fein

Both Boone County and Jefferson City are set to hold drug take back events Saturday, on National Drug Take Back Day.

FRIDAY UPDATES: Boone County reports lowest number of active cases since July 2

October 22, 2021 7:31 AM ABC 17 News Team

Check back for updates related to the coronavirus pandemic in Mid-Missouri.

FRIDAY UPDATES: Boone County reports 41 new coronavirus cases; active cases jump to 373

October 15, 2021 6:32 AM ABC 17 News Team

Check back for updates related to the coronavirus pandemic in Missouri.

Number of people receiving third COVID-19 shots surpasses first, second doses in October

October 15, 2021 9:51 PM Hannah Falcon

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Data from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services shows more people have gotten their third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine than first or second doses since the Pfizer vaccine was approved for third doses by the FDA. According to the state COVID dashboard, 85,326 doses of the COVID vaccine have

Missouri attorney general said a half-billion settlement will help opioid victims

October 12, 2021 11:51 AM Kennedy Miller

All money received from the settlement will go directly toward treatment and many services for opioid addiction including support systems across the state.

THURSDAY UPDATES: Boone County reports two more coronavirus deaths; 50 new coronavirus cases

October 7, 2021 6:30 AM ABC 17 News Team

Check back for updates related to the coronavirus pandemic in Missouri.

The Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services assistant director says outside counties are contributing to the majority of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Boone.

WEDNESDAY UPDATES: Boone County reports 17 residents hospitalized; 42 new coronavirus cases

October 6, 2021 6:16 AM ABC 17 News Team

Check back for updates related to the coronavirus pandemic in Missouri.

Helias Catholic High School changes masking requirements for students and staff starting Wednesday

October 6, 2021 5:27 AM Meghan Drakas

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Helias Catholic High School in Jefferson City is changing its masking requirements for students and staff on Wednesday. According to the high school’s website, the school will make changes to its COVID-19 protocols due to a drop in county and school case numbers compared to earlier in the school year. The