As of Friday, April 9th, 2021 phase 3 of the COVID-19 vaccination plan was activated for adult residents in Missouri. With the activation of phase 3, all adult Missouri residents are now eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine. Howell County Health Department Director, Chris Gilliam states that he hopes Howell County residents will take advantage of the opportunity to be vaccinated, at no charge to the patient. Gilliam acknowledges that some are hesitant to get vaccinated at this time, preferring to take a wait and see approach. “I respect people might have hesitancy and acknowledge that it’s okay to have questions about any new vaccine.”
Gilliam added that at this time tens of thousands of test trial subjects and millions of U.S. citizens have now received COVID-19 vaccines. Current tracking of those vaccinated indicates that these are safe vaccines. The vast majority of those vaccinated experience minor, temporary side effects. A common concern expressed by some is that the vaccine was developed so quickly, short cuts must have been taken. Gilliam stated that many are unaware that our best medical and research professionals have been working for years on coronavirus vaccines for SARS and MERS. SARS and MERS are different than COVID-19 but belong to the coronavirus family. The lessons learned in those developments were crucial in the rapid pace in which the COVID-19 vaccines were developed.
“The last year was a very difficult year for most of us. We have all been asked to sacrifice much in our battle with COVID-19. None probably more difficult than the missed moments, especially human connections that we once took for granted like visiting family and friends. Vaccinations are the next step to regain these moments. Vaccines will make it possible for our us to reach herd immunity, an important step for our community to begin to shape a new normal. Stopping a pandemic requires us to use all tools available to us, and vaccine is our most promising tool.”
Some may wonder, if most people recover from COVID-19, then why do I need a vaccine? COVID-19 is a deadly disease that causes severe illness – and in some cases, long term symptoms that we have yet to fully understand. The COVID-19 vaccines have been created to decrease death and severe illness, especially in those at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 or those who can’t get vaccinated, like infants, or people with weaken immune systems from things like chemotherapy for cancer. When you make the choice to get vaccinated, you are protecting not only yourself but also those around you. Gilliam acknowledges, “Ultimately, it is each individual’s choice to make. I hope that most will choose community over self and get vaccinated.”
A simple process for registering for a COVID-19 vaccination has been set up by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services at www.MOStopsCovid.com
