Callaway County will soon receive a significant boost in its efforts to combat COVID-19.
A mass vaccination event supervised by the Missouri National Guard and the State Emergency Management Agency is scheduled for March 26 at the Callaway Electric Cooperative, 1313 Cooperative Drive in Fulton.
The event will be from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., and approximately 2,200 doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be administered, Callaway County Presiding Commissioner Gary Jungermann said.
"It's hugely important," Jungermann said Wednesday. "There are a lot of people who don't want to get vaccinated, but there are a lot of people who do. We wanted to make sure we can get as much vaccine for the people who do want it.
"That's our job (as commissioners); that's part of what we do. We're trying to do the best that we can. We didn't want to have to deal with COVID, but we're doing it."
Jungermann stressed that before someone can get vaccinated at the March 26 event, they must pre-register at covidvaccine.mo.gov/navigator. He added it normally takes a few days for events to be listed on the website.
"Once you get registered, keep an eye on the thing," Jungermann said. "Even if you can't find (the event), the system will notify you."
Jungermann explained the county routinely requests 1,200 vaccine doses from the state on a weekly basis. To date, he said, Callaway County has received a total of only 2,400 doses.
"That's all they've sent us, and we haven't wasted any," he said. "It's not because we haven't tried (to get more)."
The county did receive 600 doses of the Pfizer vaccine that were administered Tuesday during an event conducted by the Callaway County Health Department at Southside Baptist Church in Fulton.
"It went well, and we got rid of all 600," Jungermann said. "It's not what we wanted, but at least, they're sending some. We're trying to order more, but we have yet to receive any.
"We had a mixed bag of bolts (at the event). We had people over 65, we had people with underlying conditions and we worked with Danuser (Machine Co.) to vaccinate their employees. We're trying to work with businesses some."
Jungermann estimated the Callaway County Health Department's waiting list for residents interested in receiving the vaccine is "holding steady in that 8,000 (people) range." Callaway County has a population of more than 44,000.
Callaway County residents can sign up for the waiting list at bit.ly/3cDyfbU. Placement on the list will not affect a person's ability to attend a mass vaccination event like the one March 26.
Jungermann noted there will be 30 vaccinators administering doses at the drive-thru event at the Callaway Electric Cooperative.
"We'll be running them through six lanes," he said. "If we can't do (all the doses) on the 26th, we'll keep the leftover vaccine and do a mini pod the next week."