OSAGE COUNTY - Phones at the Osage County Health Department began ringing more frequently last Thursday.
Governor Mike Parson had just announced the state activated Phase 1B of the COVID-19 vaccination plan, allowing Missourians 65-years-old and up to get in line.
"Please do not call the health department to ask" was the message from administrator Susan Long on the department's Facebook page. Osage is one of five counties in mid-Missouri to not receive any doses, 38 days after the first vaccinations were administered in the region.
Other services cut to handle call volume
Hundreds of people call the Cooper County Health Department each week to find out if they're able to get vaccinated yet, putting a strain on staff doing contact tracing on top of their normal pre-pandemic responsibilities, according to administrator Melanie Hutton.