Health department works to help those who missed vaccine

Nursing staff from area medical facilities prepare for Friday’s mass vaccination event.

DAR/Paul Davis

While the Missouri National Guard and others worked diligently Friday to make sure every person registered for the state’s first mass clinic received a vaccine, it was unfortunately not the case.

This was the first such event, and served as a learning experience for those involved, officials said.

The Butler County Health Department will work with anyone who was registered, and unable to receive a dose, to correct the situation. Those doses may be available early next week.

These individuals can call the health department to receive the vaccine, Butler County Health Department Director Emily Goodin said. The health department can be reached at 573-785-8478.

Goodin said the department has a waiting list already of people trying to receive the vaccine. That list, she explained, is over 2,000 people.

Butler County Emergency Management Director Robbie Myers said there were some hiccups with the process Friday and some people who were registered did not receive the vaccine.

Myers said he and the Butler County Health Department are working to receive a dose for those who were registered for the event and unable to get one. Myers said the goal is to administer them early next week.

Goodin said the health department places an order every week for additional vaccines and as the orders come in, those who meet the proper criteria will be contacted to make appointments.

Missouri is moving through the vaccination stages as a state and is currently vaccinating in the Phase 1A and Phase 1B groups. This includes health care providers who have not received the vaccine yet, high risk individuals such as those over the age of 65, first responders and critical infrastructure personnel such as teachers and those in transportation. A complete list can be found at covidvaccine.mo.gov.