Mid-Missouri COVID-19 testing and vaccination updates

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri continues to vaccinate residents this week and has vaccinated a total of 161,991 people within the past seven days (Feb. 5th - 11th) with an average of around 23,141 people per day.

"I cannot stress enough that supply remains the No. 1 issue restricting all Missourians who want a vaccine from receiving one," Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said. "In Missouri, we are vaccinating our most vulnerable."

This week, the state unveiled a new website where residents can register to be notified when they're eligible for the vaccine.

Walmart and Sam's Club coronavirus vaccine availability

Starting on Friday, 14 Walmart and Sam's Clubs in the Mid-Missouri are giving out the coronavirus vaccine for individuals who are eligible in Phase 1A, Phase 1B - Tiers 1 and 2.

According to a Walmart spokesperson, coronavirus vaccine appointments are available on a rolling seven-day schedule and new appointments are available starting at midnight each day. Appointments can be made on Walmart or Sam's Club websites. Being a Sam's Club member is not required to receive a dose.

As of 11:30 a.m. on Friday, appointments at Walmarts in the area were only available for the next week at the following stores:

• Walmart in Versailles - Availability on Thursday, Feb. 18
• Walmart in Marshall - Availability on Thursday, Feb. 18

MU Health Care vaccinations

MU Health Care will be receiving 4,000 Moderna coronavirus vaccine doses in the next week according to Brad Myers, Executive Director of Pharmacy and Lab at MU Health Care. He says the health system expects to receive the doses on Tuesday or Wednesday and is planning on having mass vaccination events next Friday and Sunday.

Myers said Thursday that invitations are being sent out for appointments. More could be sent out over the next few days.

MU Health Care officials said 4,118 Moderna shots were given out during mass vaccination events last week.

"For Moderna, about 25% of the vials we received we were able to obtain an eleventh dose," Myers said. "There's always overfill... every medication that's an intravenous has overfill -- it's just part of the standard process."

Myers said he expects to have around 4,118 shots of Moderna to be given out again this upcoming week because of the 'extra doses' in the vials.

MU Health Care COVID-19 testing

MU Health Care has a few temporary changes to its COVID-19 testing site starting on Friday. Christopher Sampson of MU Health's Emergency Department said the changes to the testing site were made "mainly due to the cold weather." Normal testing hours will resume on Tuesday.

"We just want to make sure our staff stays safe and even though there is some protection for them there, it's still going to be bitterly cold for someone to be outside for an extended period of time," Sampson said.

Friday, the drive-thru testing site at the Mizzou North building was open until 1 p.m. The site will be closed Saturday through Monday. 

MU Health Care said testing at the site has decreased from over 3,000 tests per week in August to around 1,700 tests a week in January. The first week of February the site ran just over 1,300 tests.

People who wish to be tested while this site is closed can visit Mizzou Urgent Care or Mizzou Quick Care. Appointments at Mizzou Quick Care must be made in advance online.

Coronavirus vaccine surveys being combined

Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services, MU Health Care and Boone Hospital Center are combining coronavirus vaccination surveys to make it easier for residents to sign up for a vaccine.

Sarah Humm with the health department said people who have previously signed up for the survey do not need to sign up again.

"Once they've signed up, they're good to go," Humm said. "If folks have not done it, they can do so over on MU Health Care's website and there's also a phone number folks can call if they don't have access to internet or they don't have an email address."

Boone Hospital Center COVID-19 testing

The Boone Hospital Center drive-thru COVID-19 testing site will be closed for the week of February 15th "due to forecasted temperatures for the week." According to the release, hospital officials anticipate the testing site will reopen on Feb. 20.

If individuals wish to be tested, they are able to use any of the Boone Hospital lab draw locations around the area.