Springfield-Greene County health officials look to faith community to promote COVID-19 vaccines

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – Springfield-Greene County health officials turned to the religious community on Monday to push for COVID-19 vaccines as cases increase in the region.

The Department of Health and James River Church have teamed up for a vaccination clinic on its campus in West Springfield. It is the first of several on the church campuses in Springfield and Joplin. Religious leaders at James River Church and the Central Assembly of God Church in Springfield are hoping to persuade other churches to hold immunization clinics. They say it is urgent as the cases are increasing.

“We want to be part of the solution, not the problem,” said Central Assembly of God pastor David Jayne, stressing that vaccinations would allow churches to return to a full congregation. “We want to make sure that we have the opportunity to pray and meet as we want. But for me, one of the main things is getting rid of those pesky masks.

Two weeks ago, health officials reported a 38% increase in the spread of COVID-19 in Greene County. At the end of last week, new cases were up 73%.

“Our community has unfortunately spent the last few weeks in the national spotlight. Said Katie Towns, acting director of the Springfield-Greene County Department of Health. “There were over 1,600 cases of COVID cases in July alone here in Greene County. Our community is seeing COVID units reopened, children on ventilators and so many cases our staff can barely keep up with the investigations. “

Springfield Mayor Ken McClure was also present at Monday’s media briefing at the immunization clinic and said he understood the public was going through fatigue from COVID-19.

“I know you are tired. I am tired. We are all tired, ”he said. “But make no mistake about it. We have the collective power to stop this virus, but we just can’t get over it without getting a large part of our community vaccinated. Local doctors will tell you that the COVID-19 outbreak in our community is directly linked to our vaccination rates. We are really in a very dangerous situation.

This is why a Federal Emergency Response Team has arrived in Springfield to try to formulate a plan to stem this growing increase in cases and the low vaccination rates (around 40%) that are lagging behind state levels and national.

This federal emergency response team consists of one member in Springfield and another working remotely to review the data and decide on a course of action.

McClure said that as far as he was concerned, bringing back a mask warrant was not an option.

“We don’t need to spend time trying to enforce a mask mandate which, in my opinion, is currently unenforceable,” he said.

But it was revealed by Towns during Monday’s press conference that the controversial approach to door-to-door canvassing (in which Gov. Mike Parson did not want the federal government involved when they came into Missouri) has already been performed using local officials. Cities said the Greene County Health Department had used it on several occasions before, such as during a hepatitis outbreak and recently during the COVID-19 pandemic before the federal government arrived. .

“The door-to-door approach is an age-old public health practice,” Towns explained. “We have been using door-to-door representatives for years and will continue to do so. Thus, people who are like us in the communities we serve will come forward to possibly talk about the vaccine, answer questions or inform about clinics that may be near someone. We call our door to door “community health advocates” and it is good public health practice where we can meet people where they are.

But the politicization of the vaccination process continues to be the elephant in the room.

Just as masks and door-to-door have become politicized, getting the vaccine has also become polarized across parties. At the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas this weekend, crowds cheered when it was announced the government was not meeting its vaccination goals.

Asked about this incident at Monday’s press conference, Towns cried and her voice became shaky.

“It breaks my heart quite honestly,” she said. “Hear people clap against a tool that can save lives as we sit in the middle of a crisis where people are dying. It breaks my heart.”

Dr Anthony Fauci was also asked about CPAC’s reaction during an interview on CNN.

“It’s horrible,” Fauci replied. “They’re encouraging someone who says it’s a good thing for people not to try and save their lives. I just don’t understand and I don’t think anyone who thinks clearly can understand this. “

Below is a list of vaccination options in Greene County.

Tuesday July 13

Ozarks Community Blood Center (SGCHD) – 220 W. Farm Road 182 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Free vaccine: Pfizer (12+) or Johnson & Johnson (18+)
James River North Church (JVCHC) – 3225 N. Farm Road 123 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free vaccine: Pfizer (from 12 years old), Moderna (from 18 years old) or Johnson & Johnson (from 18 years old)
Woodfield Park Apartments (SGCHD) – 2759 E. Pythian from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Free vaccine: Pfizer (12+) or Johnson & Johnson (18+)
Oakwood Place Apartments, Republic (SGCHD) – 810 N. Oakwood Ave, Republic from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Free vaccine: Pfizer (from 12 years old) or Johnson & Johnson (from 18 years old)

PUBLICITY

Wednesday July 14

Strafford Elderly Center (JVCHC) – 201 W. Bumgarner Blvd., Strafford from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Free vaccine: Pfizer (12+) or Johnson & Johnson (18+)
Westside Department of Health (SGCHD) – 660 S. Scenic from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free vaccine: Pfizer (from 12 years old), Moderna (from 18 years old) or Johnson & Johnson (from 18 years old)
James River Ozark Church (JVCHC) – 6100 N. 19th St., Ozark from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free vaccine: Pfizer (from 12 years old), Moderna (from 18 years old) or Johnson & Johnson (from 18 years old)
Price Cutter (SGCHD) – 712 W. Commercial St. from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Free vaccine: Moderna (18+) or Johnson & Johnson (18+)

Thursday July 15

Springfield Fire Station # 1 (SGCHD) – 720 E. Large from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Free vaccine: Pfizer (12+) or Johnson & Johnson (18+)

PUBLICITY

Friday July 16

Asian Global Market (JVCHC) – 2904 S. Campbell Ave. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free vaccine: Pfizer (12+), Moderna (18+) or Johnson & Johnson (18+)
Hotel Vandivort (SGCHD) – 305 E. Walnut St. from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Free vaccine: Pfizer (12+) or Johnson & Johnson (18+)
Price Cutter (SGCHD) – 1831 W. Kearney from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Free vaccine: Moderna (18+) or Johnson & Johnson (18+)

Saturday July 17th

Dickerson Park Zoo (SGCHD) – 1401 W. Norton from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Free vaccine: Pfizer (12+) or Johnson & Johnson (18+)
Hope and Anchor Church (JVCHC) – 2216 W. College St. 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Free vaccine: Pfizer (12+), Moderna (18+) or Johnson & Johnson (18+)
Ozark Farmer’s Market (SGCHD) – 2144 E. Chemin de la République. from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Free vaccine: Pfizer (from 12 years old)
C-Street Farmers Market (JVCHC) – 321 E. Commercial St. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free vaccine: Pfizer (12+), Moderna (18+) or Johnson & Johnson (18+)

These opportunities are in addition to recurring immunization clinics at the Benton Clinic at the Jordan Valley Community Health Center, 618 N. Benton. Jordan Valley offers walk-in vaccines for Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with extended hours Tuesday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. COVID-19 vaccines are also available by appointment or on foot. via CoxHealth and Mercy Hospital Springfield.

A list of these events and additional opportunities is available at vaccine417.com or by calling (417) 874-1211.

To report a correction or typo, please send an email [email protected]

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