Registration needed for second mass vaccination event

AP File Photo

An upcoming mass vaccination event and expected frigid weather were discussed Wednesday during a weekly COVID-19 briefing for Butler County officials.

The second COVID mass vaccination in Butler County will be Friday, Feb. 12. Those who received the first immunization at mass vaccination events in January will need to preregister to receive the second shot. The location and times for the event still are being discussed and will be announced as soon as they are determined. Amanda Fitzwater, operations manager at the Butler County Health Department, said, some first shots will be available and those people will also be required to register.

Registration information will be provided in print and online at the Daily American Republic as soon as it is available, said Butler County Emergency Management Director Robbie Myers.

“We are working on this next mass vaccination clinic,” said Fitzwater. “Registration is not out currently, we’re waiting on the Department of Health and Senior Services to release that. When they do, we will release a huge thing on our app, letting people know registration is open, as well as our Facebook and our web page.”

Fitzwater explained, “we’re working with other counties to get mass vaccinations in their area. So we’re also letting people know in our county when those are happening, because they are more than welcome to go to those as well.”

Myers said, “we believe that this will be a scheduled time each person will be given.”

Agreeing, Fitzwater said, “Yes, we’re hopeful that it’s a scheduled time so it will be hopefully less congested than the last one. We’ve let everyone know what they need to do to register as far as we can.

“We’re getting messages constantly from people who have helped their elderly people and they’re asking, do we need to do a second round. We’re letting them know, yes, you have to register.”

Fitzwater said, “No one else in the state should have this problem because they are now setting up a little different. We were the guinea pig. We have to deal with it. “

When frigid temperatures arrive locally, warming centers will be located at the health center, 1619 N. Main St., and both branches of the municipal library.

Fitzwater said, “we are open for a warming center for the hours of operations Monday through Friday. They can come in and get warm.”

The Poplar Bluff Municipal Library on Main Street is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The branch on Highway PP is open from 1-6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

Boys and Girls Club Executive Director Chris Rushin said, “We’re right at 414 every day. Very happy with that. The number is continuing to climb steadily. We continue to keep up with our protocols, the mask wearing. I couldn’t be more proud of the kids and the staff in the school. We’re going to keep them safe and in school.”