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Fewer people are getting the COVID-19 vaccine in southwest Missouri. And area public health departments hope to increase the number of people who are getting their shots through a new initiative.
Cara Erwin, spokesperson for the Springfield-Greene County Health Department said they’re working with other health departments in the 417 region on the initiative, called Vaccine Champions. The Vaccine Champions program is essentially creating a community of folks who are exactly that they re vaccine champions, said Erwin. They re people who have been vaccinated and feel strongly.based in science that the benefits of the vaccine far outweigh the risks of getting COVID or spreading COVID.
The community is inching closer to the goal of having half of the eligible Greene County residents vaccinated against COVID-19 by Memorial Day, but health department officials are hopeful that will happen. If we keep up the current pace, we definitely can meet that goal of reaching 50 percent full vaccination by Memorial Day, said Cara Erwin with the Springfield-Greene County Health Department. But we are saying very strongly: We need to keep up that pace. We talk about finishing strong and how this is a marathon, not a race.
Greene County entered the yellow phase of its Road to Recovery plan on April 16, which meant the 50 percent occupancy restrictions on some local businesses were removed.
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This year’s Artsfest will feature work for sale by a variety of artisans, food booths and live music. And it will offer something else: COVID-19 vaccines.
The Greene County CARES Mobile Support Unit will be stationed near the event to give shots to those who want them.
The unit is a partnership of Jordan Valley Community Health Center, the Springfield-Greene County Health Department, the Greene County Medical Center, the City of Springfield and the United Way of the Ozarks’ Give 5 program. It will be at the southeast corner of the University Plaza parking lot, at 333 John Q. Hammons Parkway, Saturday, May 1, from 10 to 5:30 and Sunday, May 2, from 10 to 4:30.