Vaccines available to businesses on site

Missouri state offices will open Monday, May 17, and the Butler County Health Center will offer local businesses COVID-19 vaccinations on site.

Butler County Emergency Management Director Robbie Myers announced during the COVID briefing Wednesday, if a state office is not open yet, it will open May 17.

Myers said, “Today, Governor Mike Parson directed all state workers to return to their offices for in-person work no later than Monday, May 17, and that all state buildings be open and accessible to the public during normal business hours.”

In the governor’s press release, he said, “since the start of COVID-19, our state team members have gone above and beyond to keep state government running and continue providing quality public service to Missourians.

“Thanks in large part to their efforts, Missouri is in a strong position, and we continue to move forward each day.”

Vaccine availability will help ensure a safe return, he said.

The health and well-being of the state workforce remains a top priority and COVID-19 screening and testing protocols will remain in place, he said. Vaccines are available to all state employees. Team members can use vaccinefinder.org to find available vaccinators in their area. While there will be no statewide mandates, state team members are encouraged to practice COVID-19 preventative measures.

Myers told the group, “we’ll be keeping an eye on the different things the governor and the state will be doing, as we go through May. We will see how long the state remains under a state of declared emergency.”

While the state offices are going to open, Butler County Health Department Director Emily Goodin will take vaccinations to local businesses.

She explained her staff will be vaccinating Three Rivers College staff and employees this week.

“We are still providing our testing here at the health department,” Goodin said. “We offer free rapid testing, to all ages. All you have to do is get on Facebook or our website and make an appointment. If you don’t have access to internet, just give us a call. We are only doing testing on Wednesdays.”

The health department staff is offering a weekly vaccine clinic on Fridays at the center. The health center offers the Moderna vaccine, so anyone 18 years of age and older is eligible, Goodin said.

To register and schedule a vaccination appointment visit: covidvaccine.mo.gov/find/#navigator or call 877-435-8411.

The county had 22 new COVID cases this week and has 26 active cases, Goodin said.

“Since the beginning, we have had 4,522 COVID cases in Butler County,“ Goodin said, and a total of 8,419 county residents or 19.8% of the county’s population have been vaccinated.