Covid vaccines given to first responders, residents 65 and older in Ozark County

As residents and staff members at Gainesville Health Care Center got their second of two covid vaccinations Thursday, Jan. 28, several Ozark County first responders got their first shot as the long-awaited vaccine finally was made available in the county to those not connected to the nursing home who qualified according to the government-specified phased approach.

The two different vaccines now being most commonly given in the U.S. require two injections given three to four weeks apart.

In Missouri’s Phrase 1A, vaccinations were to be offered to residents and staff of long-term care facilities, “patient-facing” healthcare workers and EMS/EMT/paramedics. Following that protocol, residents and staff members at GHCC were offered the first dose of the vaccine on Dec. 31. Those who declined the vaccine during that first opportunity but changed their minds were allowed to get the first dose Thursday when personnel from Walgreens returned to the facility to administer the second dose to those who were vaccinated on Dec. 31, said GHCC administrator Sherri Beasley. 

Now that Missouri is in Phase 1B, first responders and emergency personnel (tier 1), and “high-risk individuals,” including those age 65 and older and those with underlying health challenges (tier 2), are eligible to receive the covid shot. 

However, until last week, just because residents here were eligible didn’t mean the vaccine was available within Ozark County. The county’s medical clinics and the Ozark County Health Department were eagerly awaiting delivery of the vaccine but didn’t know when it would arrive.

Last Wednesday, OCHD administrator notified the Times that her staff would begin vaccinating first responders here on Thursday and Friday, and on Monday, OCHD began making appointments to vaccinate those age 65 and older. 

Thirty first responders were vaccinated Thursday and Friday, Suter said. And on Monday, appointments were made to vaccinate approximately 200 eligible residents this week.

When the state declares that Phase 1B, tier 3 is open, eligibility will be extended to those involved in “critical infrastructure,” including those involved in education and childcare, communications and information technology, food and agriculture (sector 1), government, transportation systems, water and wastewater systems and other categories. For details, including who will be eligible in Phases 2 and 3, visit health.mo.gov.

While some residents have expressed skepticism about the vaccine, others are eager to get the protection. On Friday, vaccinations were initially offered at the West Plains Civic Center to those who had pre-registered. But shortly after noon, Ozarks Healthcare (formerly Ozarks Medical Center), which was sponsoring the vaccination effort with the Missouri National Guard, the Howell County Health Department and the city of West Plains, announced that additional vaccines had become available and would be offered to eligible individuals, first-come, first-serve. The Times published the announcement on its Facebook page, and some Ozark Countians commented that they were hurrying to West Plains, hoping to get the shots. Later, several happily reported that they had been vaccinated.

“We were very excited when we arrived to discover we had a number,” said Pontiac resident Linda Dunsmuir. “The event was extremely well organized, and we are looking forward to our 2nd shot on the 19th.”

The Gainesville Medical Clinic (417-679-4613) and Theodosia Family Medical Clinic (417-273-2300) have said they’re taking names of residents who wish to be notified when the vaccine is available there. To inquire about covid vaccinations at the Ozark County Health Department, call 417-679-3334, or at the Missouri Ozarks Community Health clinic in Gainesville, call 417-679-2775.