WEST PLAINS, MO – With COVID-19 on the rise and the start of a new school year around the corner, Ozarks Healthcare will offer the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for area student athletes participating in free athletic physicals for from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 22, at Ozarks Healthcare Pediatrics located at 312 Kentucky Ave. in West Plains.
The Food and Drug Administration authorized the emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for those 12 and older on May 10. Ozarks Healthcare officials encourage parents to add getting vaccinated on back-to-school to-do lists.
“Although a smaller number of children have been infected with COVID-19 compared to adults so far, children can still be infected, get sick, and spread COVID-19 to others,” Dr. Priscilla Frase, Hospitalist and Chief Medical Information Officer, said. “Studies suggest the Delta variant, which is now the predominant strain in the U.S., is more contagious than what we have experienced over the past year. Even though children may not become as sick with COVID-19, everyone 12 years and older should get a COVID-19 vaccination to help us reach herd immunity. Widespread vaccination is critical in helping us reach the level of immunity needed to have more control over COVID-19.”
Students receiving a COVID-19 vaccine will be required to submit a signed consent form from his or her parent(s) or legal guardian(s) at the time of his or her physical. Students who are not accompanied by their parent(s) or legal guardian(s) will also be required to provide a phone number for a parent or legal guardian who can be reached at the time of his or her vaccination.
Regardless of whether students receive a COVID-19 vaccine, all students will be required to submit a signed consent/medical history form and provide current insurance information from a parent or legal guardian to receive a physical. Consent forms may be picked up between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the West Plains High School Office located at 602 E. Olden in West Plains.
Both forms are also available online at https://www.ozarkshealthcare.com/about-us/for-community/.
Local physicians, family nurse practitioners, and advanced practice nurses will conduct physicals for student athletes entering grades 7 through 12 at local schools.
To follow social distancing guidelines, participants are encouraged to arrive during specified time slots determined by their school or high school team. Teams outside of the West Plains R-7 School District are encouraged to attend during specified OPEN time slots.
Times and locations are as follows:
| TIME | Girls | Boys |
| 9 – 10 a.m. | Cross Country, Track | Cross Country, Track |
| 10 – 10:30 a.m. | Softball | Football |
| 10:30 – 11 a.m. | Tennis | Football/Tennis |
| 11 – 11:30 a.m. | Golf/Cheer | Swim |
| 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. | West Plains Middle School | West Plains Middle School |
| 12 – 12:30 p.m. | Volleyball | Soccer |
| 12:30 – 1 p.m. | Richards | Richards |
| 1 – 1:30 p.m. | Wrestling | Wrestling |
| 1:30 – 2 p.m. | Junction Hill | Junction Hill |
| 2 – 2:30 p.m. | Basketball | Basketball |
| 2:30 – 3 p.m. | Fairview | Fairview |
| 3 – 3:30 p.m. | Swim | Baseball |
| 3:30 – 4 p.m. | Glenwood | Glenwood |
| 4 – 4:30 p.m. | Soccer | Golf/Tennis |
| 4:30 – 5 p.m. | Howell Valley | Howell Valley |
| 5 – 7 p.m. | OPEN | OPEN |
Student athletes are asked to check-in at the tents located in the Ozarks Healthcare Pediatrics Parking Lot. Temperatures and COVID-19 screening questions will be asked upon arrival. Once checked in, students will be directed to the appropriate location to complete their athletic physical.
Students who wish to receive a COVID-19 vaccine but will not be attending athletic physicals may have their parents call the Ozarks Healthcare Pharmacy at 417-256-1793 to schedule an appointment.
Athletic Physicals Offered in Ozarks Healthcare’s Rural Locations
Gainesville:
Ozarks Healthcare staff will conduct free athletic physicals for Gainesville students on Thursday, July 22, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Gainesville School District. All students will be required to submit a signed consent/medical history form and provide current insurance information from a parent or legal guardian at the time of the physicals. Students can download the form from Ozarks Healthcare’s website at the link previously mentioned or contact Mr. Gilmore at 417-679-4200.
Dora:
Ozarks Healthcare staff will conduct free athletic physicals for Dora students on Thursday, July 22, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Dora School District. All students will be required to submit a signed consent/medical history form and provide current insurance information from a parent or legal guardian at the time of the physicals Students can download the form from Ozarks Healthcare’s website at the link previously mentioned or contact Coach Fox at 417-259-0269.
Thayer, Couch, and Mammoth Spring, Arkansas:
Additional free athletic physicals will be offered for students in grades 8-12 in Thayer, Couch, and Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, on Friday, July 23, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ozarks Healthcare’s Thayer location. Ozarks Healthcare Thayer is located at 1375 Nettleton Ave. in Thayer. All students will be required to submit a signed consent/medical history form and provide current insurance information from a parent or legal guardian at the time of the physicals. Students can download the form from Ozarks Healthcare’s website at the link previously mentioned.
Bakersfield:
Ozarks Healthcare staff will conduct free athletic physicals for Bakersfield students on Wednesday, July 28, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Bakersfield School District. All students will be required to submit a signed consent/medical history form and provide current insurance information from a parent or legal guardian at the time of the physicals. Students can download the form from Ozarks Healthcare’s website at the link previously mentioned or contact Doug Landsdown at 417-284-7333.
Alton:
Students in Alton needing an athletic physical may call Ozarks Healthcare’s Alton location to schedule a physical anytime Monday through Friday. Ozarks Healthcare Alton is located at 100 Medical Dr. in Alton and can be reached at 417-778-7227.
COVID-19 vaccines are not yet offered at rural locations, but anyone interested in receiving a COVID-19 vaccine is encouraged to call the Ozarks Healthcare Pharmacy at 417-256-1793 to schedule an appointment.
