First-dose covid-19 drive-thru vaccination clinic set for March 26

The Ozark County Health department will conduct a first-dose drive-thru covid-19 vaccination March 26 in the Gainesville Church of Christ parking lot for those who are eligible under the state’s phased system. 

Currently, Missouri is in Phase 1B-Tier 2, which includes only residents age 65 or older, healthcare workers and or residents age 18-64 with chronic health problems are currently eligible for the vaccine. However, Gov. Mike Parson has announced that on March 15, Missourians in Phase 1B - Tier 3 will be eligible to receive the vaccine. This tier includes K-12 educators and school employees; child care providers; grocery store employees; and workers involved in energy, food, agriculture and other critical infrastructure, among others, will be eligible for the vaccination. For the complete list of categories in each phase and tier, visit covidvaccine.mo.gov.

To make an appointment for the March 26 drive-thru clinic, call the Ozark County Health Department at 417-679-3334. OCHD administrator Rhonda Suter said last week that those in Phase 1B Tiers 2 and 3 may call the health department now to schedule an appointment for the March 26 drive-thru clinic. Because this is a locally operated clinic, sign-up is not available on the state’s online covid navigator site. 

Second-dose vaccination clinics set for March 12 and 23 at the Church of Christ are full, and all appointment slots have been scheduled, OCHD announced last week.