The percentage of the population fully vaccinated against COVID-19 continues to inch up in Pettis County.
According to unofficial minutes from the Pettis County COVID-19 Task Force meeting on Monday, October 18, approximately 41.8 percent of the population has started the vaccination process. According to the state’s website, 17,717 Pettis County residents have begun their two-shot series, and 15,870 are considered fully vaccinated, which is approximately 37.5 percent of the population.
However, health officials say Pettis County is falling behind the state rate of 54.6 percent having started their vaccination series and 48.7 percent fully vaccinated.
The state is reporting 66.2 percent of the population over 18 has started and 59.2 percent are fully vaccinated.
For Pettis County, 53 percent of the population 18+ have started the vaccination series (16,895) and 47.6 percent (15,183) are fully vaccinated.
According to the DHSS website, 23.5 percent (820) of 12-to-17-year-olds have started their vaccination series, and 19.7 percent (686) are fully vaccinated.
At this time, a third dose is available to those individuals with a weakened immune system due to illness or medications with Pfizer or Moderna. Booster doses of Pfizer vaccine are encouraged for individuals who had the last Pfizer dose six months or longer ago, aged 65 or older, aged 18 or older and living in residential facility, and aged 50-64 with underlying medical conditions.
Booster doses are available for people aged 18-49 with underlying medical conditions and people aged 18-64 who work in occupations with higher risk of disease transmission to include first responders, healthcare workers, EMS, fire, law enforcement, congregate care staff, education staff, food and agriculture workers, manufacturing workers, corrections staff, U.S. Postal Service staff, public transit workers and grocery store workers. When booster doses are available for Moderna or J&J, health officials will notify the community.
The Pettis County Health Center has regular walk-in clinics from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays; from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Thursdays; and from noon to 3 p.m. on Fridays. First doses are available as well as second doses and third/booster doses.