City officials in Springfield and local health professionals continue to encourage people to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
The number of people seeking the vaccine has dropped by 43 percent since April 9, according to the Springfield-Greene County Health Department at a press briefing Tuesday. As of Tuesday morning, 33 percent of Greene County residents 16 and older had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
And there's been a jump in positive cases of the illness in Greene County. Less than two weeks ago, the seven-day average of daily cases was under 18 per day. Tuesday, it was 31.43 cases per day.
Dr. Kayce Morton, pediatrician for CoxHealth and Jordan Valley Community Health Center, said at the briefing that the vaccine is the best tool in the toolbox to fight COVID-19. She urged people to get a vaccine to protect those who aren't yet eligible for one.
"We are still seeing kids with side effects and complications (from COVID-19)," said Morton. "I have an 18-year-old that's on bed rest that has heart issues that has to be monitored and might not ever have a normal heart. A seven-year-old that I have taken care of that had to be put on a transplant list until his heart recovered from COVID complications. This is something that's not going to go away, and we have a duty to protect our children."
Vaccines are being taken into areas where people are gathering. There was a mobile clinic near Artsfest last weekend that vaccinated 150 people. Another 215 were vaccinated against COVID-19 at clinics Saturday at the Library Center and Library Station in Springfield.
The Missouri National Guard, Mercy and the Springfield Cardinals are holding a mobile vaccination clinic Tuesday night, May 4, from 5:30 to 8 as the Cardinals host their first game at Hammons Field in more than a year.
And a Fire Station Fun Day and Vaccine Clinic is planned for Friday, May 7, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fire Station 8, 1405 S. Scenic in Springfield. The event will include children's activities, and adults can get either the two-dose Moderna vaccine or the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Learn more about how to get a COVID-19 vaccine at vaccine417.com or call (417) 874-1211.
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