The drive-thru immunization clinic held at Rolling Hills Park in Boonville was a success with 1,046 immunizations given in a two-day period.

According to Cooper County Public Health Center Administration Administrator Melanie Hutton, the citizens who received the vaccine fell into the health classifications of 1A and 1B for vaccination priority by the State of Missouri.

On Sunday January 23, the health center received an e-mail stating that Pfizer vaccine had been ordered for Cooper County. By 5 p.m. the same day, the county had received notice that it would arrive on Tuesday, January 26, on dry ice.

Monday, January 25, community partners Emergency Management Director Larry Oerly, Boonville City Services- Bobby Welliver, Kate Fjell, Jeff Ditto and Paul Linhart- were notified that assistance was needed as the health center would like to host a drive-thru clinic on Thursday, January 28, and Friday, January 29. All departments responded with full support and physical resources to help carry out the clinic.

Follow-up plans for second doses are being made and the staff of the Cooper County Public Health Center have been working to create a working plan to carry out those immunization through the heath center building.

Hutton says here is the latest information on the timing regarding the second dose per Department of Health and Senior Services Lana Hudanick: “Administration Summary- CDC continues to recommend that people get their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine as close as possible (three weeks for Pfizer and one month for Moderna). CDC’s updated guidance was revised to allow for second dose administration up to six weeks (42 days) after the first, if it is not feasible to adhere to the recommended interval. The CDC is not advocating for people to delay getting their second dose, but the data from clinical trials support this range.”