By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
An incentive to get a COVID-19 vaccination is being dangled by Mosaic Life Care.
In an effort to increase local vaccination rates, Mosaic Life Care is teaming with Missouri Western State University and the Kansas City Chiefs to host a coronavirus vaccination clinic during the Chiefs’ training camp.
Mosaic Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Davin Turner, makes no secret that holding a clinic during Chiefs Training Camp is aimed at increasing the percentage of area residents vaccinated against COVID-19.
“It’s to help increase the rate of vaccination in our community,” Turmer says. “I believe we all know vaccination rates are low in certain areas of the state and we hope that this will help those vaccination rates.”
The St. Joseph Health Department on Monday reported that 20.4% of the Buchanan County population had completed COVID-19 vaccination. Buchanan County has a 14.86% positivity rate with 51 new coronavirus cases reported on Monday.
Mosaic Life Care reports it is treating 51 COVID-19 patients in its system; 50 in St. Jospeh and one in Maryville.
The Chiefs Training Camp vaccination clinic will be held Thursday between 11:30am and 2pm on the Missouri Western campus in St. Joseph in the Looney Complex. Appointments must be made ahead of time through the Mosaic website: mymlc.com.
Mosaic will be using the Pfizer vaccine, so those as young as 12 are eligible.
Turner says those getting the shot will have the opportunity to meet Chiefs players.
“Chiefs players will make a special appearance at this event,” Turner says. “And those vaccinated will have an opportunity for a limited interaction with the players.”
The Chiefs players scheduled to attend are Defensive Tackle Chris Jones, Wide Receiver Byron Pingle, and Wide Receiver Demarcus Robinson. All have been vaccinated.
Turner says Mosaic hopes a clinic open during Chiefs Training Camp at MWSU will spur interest in getting vaccinated.
“We’re hoping that with the Chiefs here that this vaccination event will spur those to come in and get their vaccine, plus they will have an opportunity to meet three of the Chiefs players, although limitedly,” Turner says. “Those players have been very gracious with providing us with time.”