MU Health Care has opened a COVID-19 vaccination site at Faurot Field in Columbia and, pending adequate supply of vaccine, is ready to begin large-scale public vaccinations.
The site inside the Walsworth Columns Club at Faurot Field opened Monday morning, according to a news release.
This week, MU Health Care is vaccinating clinical learners and instructors who work in MU Health Care facilities from the MU School of Medicine, School of Health Professions and Sinclair School of Nursing as well as first responders, people in emergency services and other members of the public health infrastructure who aren't front-line health care workers.
MU Health Care will follow the state's COVID-19 vaccination distribution plan. Missouri most recently opened its vaccination Phase 1B, Tier 2, which includes anyone age 65 or older and any adults considered at high risk because of cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD, heart conditions, weakened immune system due to organ transplant, severe obesity (BMI greater than 40), sickle cell disease and Type 2 diabetes. It also includes pregnant women and people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities such as Down syndrome.
"We now have the infrastructure in place to vaccinate more than 1,000 people each day," said Dr. Stevan Whitt, MU Health Care chief clinical officer. "We're looking forward to hitting that number as soon as we receive the vaccine doses to do so."
MU Health Care has launched an online survey at muhealth.org/form/covid-vaccine-survey, where people can sign up to be notified when COVID-19 vaccine will be available to them. It's available for patients and non-patients.
MU Health Care will notify patients when vaccine clinics begin even if they do not fill out the vaccine availability survey. Those who have questions or need help filling out the form can call our COVID-19 vaccine call center at 573-771-CARE (2273). The call center will be open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Vaccination is by appointment only. People arriving for vaccination will enter on the east side of the football stadium at 600 E. Stadium Blvd. Signage and parking attendants will provide direction to the appropriate parking lot and entrance to access the administration site.