Freeman hosting biweekly drive-thru vaccination clinics
With every adult Missourian now eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine, Freeman Health System is now offering drive-thru vaccination clinics every other week.
60 first-dose vaccination appointments will be made available each week. At the first clinic on Tuesday, 35 people booked appointments and were vaccinated for COVID-19.
“We just started offering the drive-thru vaccinations, and it has gone very well,” said Jessica Liberty, Freeman Infection Prevention and Control Manager. “Our staff has become very efficient at the same site doing drive-thru COVID-19 testing. This new system allows residents to schedule an appointment in a similar way to scheduling a COVID-19 test.”
Liberty tells us that the drive-thru method works well for people with varying schedules and that you never have to get out of your vehicle. “If you have someone who has limited mobility or other types of special considerations like anxiety–they do not have to leave their vehicle–they just drive-thru, we give them their shot then they sit in their vehicle for 15 to 30 minutes while we observe them in their car.”
State data shows that Joplin has one of the highest vaccination rates in the state with nearly 40% of residents already receiving their first shot with nearly 30% completing vaccination. Nationwide, more than half of U.S. adults have gotten at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine, and more than a third have been fully vaccinated.
“We want to see herd immunity, not only for the four-state area but also nationally as well. But it’s very encouraging to see so many members of our community participating in the vaccine so we can work in one direction to help reduce COVID,” added Liberty, who says these vaccines are free of charge. She also tells Newstalk KZRG they are NOT giving out the Johnson & Johnson version.
An article from ABC 17 in Columbia says that wasted coronavirus vaccine from Feb. 1 through April 5 cost Missouri taxpayers more than $100,000, and Missouri providers lost out on more than $200,000 in payments from giving the shots.
“If we have so many appointments that are scheduled and we have somebody that would no-show for an appointment we would call them,” said Liberty. Our goal ultimately is obviously to not waste our vaccine and also be able to accommodate to our patients that want to receive them.”
If you are wanting a vaccination, you can call 417.502.SHOT to register for the vaccine or they can pre-register online at freemanhealth.com/service/covid-19
Freeman tells us that pre-registration will prompt a return call from a Freeman employee to schedule a vaccination appointment.