By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
Mosaic Life Care has a new COVID-19 vaccine appointment request list, which went live at 5 p.m. Friday.
The web address remains the same - MyMLC.com/vaccine.
Those who sign up need to enter their name, address, phone number, the last four digits of their social security number, date of birht and email.
Appointments are made based on vaccine supply and the order in which requests are received.
When an appointment becomes available, the person will get a text and an email, and they’ll have 24 hours to book the appointment.
Even if the person doesn’t book it in time, their name stays on the request list.
Mosaic Chief Medical officer, Dr. Davin Turner, thanks the public for their patience, as they continue to try and make vaccine sign up more efficient.
"We do hope within the next week that we have the ability to use phone call-in services," Turner said. "We are working very hard on this."
Until that happens, Turner says the main idea with the new request list is to make the process of signing up for vaccine much quicker. The most common frustration amongst patients was being unable to sign up for appointments online.
"As we move through the list, based on what number you are, as we release vaccine, you'll get your email," Turner said. "You won't have to continuously go back to the website."
Mosaic has vaccinated over 2,500 people in its system since Monday with another 1,000 doses ready to go this coming week.
Along with the vaccination center at the former Gordman's in the East Hills Shopping Center in St. Joseph, Mosaic has been working with the Nodaway County and Tri-County Health Departments to get more vaccine administered in those areas.
Nodaway County vaccinated over 700 people Tuesday, while Tri-County Health looks to vaccinate 540 people at a clinic in Albany on Monday.
"We make sure there is a fair distribution based on the population and the want for the vaccine in those areas," Turner said.
Once people have received their first dose of the vaccine through Mosaic, their appointment for the second dosage will be made in a timely fashion. The recommended window between the two doses is three weeks.
While the state looks for more vaccine doses from the federal government, Mosaic continues to look for volunteers to help them administer vaccine.
Nursing students from Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri State, along with local law enforcement, have assisted efforts so far, but Turner says more help is always needed.
"Our own caregivers are volunteering their time on their days off to come in," Turner said. "I've actually been asked by some folks in the general public, 'Can I come help in some way?' And we do need help with registration."
Registration help is needed, because appointments have been filled almost instantly and interest in the vaccine remains high. Turner is encouraged by the fact that people are eager to get the shot.
He says hospital personnel will likely be wearing masks until sometime next spring, but for the general public, more vaccinations means a quicker return to normal life.
"Folks would really like to be able to go out without a mask," Turner said. "The more people we can vaccinate, the more I think we'll be able to see the mayor and city council assess the situation, looking at the positivity rate and hospitalizations, and looking at when they can give some relief to the city."
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