The Springfield-Greene County Health Department has transitioned COVID-19 vaccination and testing operations from the Health Department Vaccination Clinic on Battlefield Road to Westside Public Health Center (660 S. Scenic Ave.) in February.
COVID-19 testing and vaccination will be available each weekday at the Westside clinic. Testing appointments will run Monday-Friday 8-11:15 a.m. and vaccinations 1-4:30 p.m. For appointments, call the COVID-19 Call Center at 417-874-1211 or visit COVIDTesting417.com and vaccine417.com. Patients receiving their first and second dose will still receive $50 gift cards at the Westside clinic, as supplies last.
The move highlights the Health Department’s dedication to maintaining vaccine and testing accessibility in the community. Along with the new clinic location, the Health Department will also host neighborhood clinics with various community partners in the upcoming months. Hours and locations will vary to allow for easy accessibility.
The Health Department is teaming up with local organizations again to make these events as accessible as possible in Greene County. The outreach team at the Health Department has been working closely with partners like Springfield Public Schools and the Springfield-Greene County Library District to host COVID-19 vaccination clinics at several locations such as the Midtown Carnegie Library, Library Station, Central High School and Glendale High School, among other locations.
Some of these neighborhood clinics will also have reoccurring dates, so the best way to keep an eye on when a clinic nearest to you will be open is to check vaccine417.com. for upcoming locations, dates, and times. Anyone who gets a first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at these neighborhood clinics will receive a $50 gift card while supplies last.
Getting vaccinated and receiving a booster continues to be the most effective way to prevent severe illness and hospitalization from COVID-19. Cases of COVID-19 in Greene County have declined but protecting yourself and your loved ones by staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations is important. As of March 3, 53% of those 5 and over in Greene County are fully vaccinated. Even though case numbers are low, the vaccine will provide protection to you and your loved ones when another COVID-19 surge occurs.
Efforts at the Battlefield clinic
The Health Department began vaccinating the community at the Battlefield clinic on October 11, 2021. As of mid-February, the staff administered 13,267 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and tested 4,871 patients on site. Also, 3,200 individuals received a $50 gift card for receiving their first or second dose at the Battlefield clinic.
When the CDC approved pediatric vaccination last fall, Springfield Public Schools joined forces with the Health Department to host vaccination clinics and increase testing access for students. In total, 1,984 pediatric vaccine doses were administered at the clinic and 50 SPS students were tested at the site over 12 days during the Omicron variant peak.
COVID-19 Call Center offering Spanish-speaking services
The Health Department is pleased to announce that the COVID-19 Call Center now offers Spanish-speaking services to the community. This new service can be used by contacting the 417-874-1211 and pressing 3. Callers will then be connected to a Spanish-speaking team member who can answer questions related to COVID-19, provide them with information on upcoming vaccination opportunities and book testing appointments. The COVID-19 Call Center has become a vital function of the Health Department’s response throughout the pandemic.
With the new addition of Spanish speaking services, more people will be able to learn more about COVID-19 vaccination and testing services so they can better protect themselves, their loved ones, and their community.