By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
A resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic has prompted a change at the St. Joseph public health clinic.
Those going to the Health Department Clinic at the Patee Market Health Center, 904 South 10th Street, will not be allowed to wait at the clinic, but instead will have to wait in their cars before getting their vaccinations, including the COVID-19 vaccination.
Clinic Supervisor Connie Werner advises parents to keep up on the latest and not wait on vaccinations.
“Be as educated as possible. Be in communication with your school,” Werner tells St. Joseph Post. “Make sure that if you have the ability to have the vaccination and for your children to have the vaccination, to get those done as well. The health department is not the only resource for the COVID vaccine. There are multiple pharmacies and Mosaic offering the vaccine as well. So, we want people to not wait until the last minute. That typically happens each year.”
Between now and the 27th, the public health clinic is busy with school children and students getting all their immunizations prior to the start of school.
Services at the public health clinic are provided on a first-come, first-served basis from 8-to-11 in the morning and 1-to-4 in the afternoon.
Parents are asked to bring only two children at a time. The temporary changes will be in place through the 27th in anticipation of increased traffic due to back-to-school needs.
Those who can wait on shots are asked to postpone their visit until the school rush is over, but Werner says if you need vaccinations or tests, don’t put it off.
“For nursing students who need TB tests, for somebody who really wants a COVID vaccine and they want to come to us, you are welcome to come to us, just be aware that there will be increased traffic, a lot more people coming, and so the wait times will be increased,” Werner says. “And we will be having people wait in their cars due to the volume of clients.”
Werner asks those seeking services from the public clinic to be patient.
“Just be aware of how busy it is,” Werner cautions. “Be aware of how crowded it is and just do anything you can to make it as efficient as possible.”