Coping with COVID: Mo. cancels mass vaccination events across state due to bitter-cold forecast

Missouri’s COVID-19 mass vaccination events scheduled for this week have been canceled due to severe winter conditions.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson’s office late Monday afternoon said that all mass vaccination events through Feb. 19 have been canceled if they involved the Missouri National Guard, Department of Health and Senior Services or the State Emergency Management Agency.

“Missouri is experiencing severe winter weather that makes driving dangerous and threatens the health and safety of anyone exposed to the cold,” Parson said in a release. “These conditions will also likely delay some vaccine shipments. We want to protect the safety of everyone involved in the mass vaccination events, from the patients being vaccinated to the volunteers who generously support these events.”

Residents who were scheduled to receive a vaccine during one of this week’s events are asked to reach out to other providers in their area. State officials said Monday that they are working to reschedule this week’s mass vaccination events.

The decision will impact the mass vaccination clinic at Cerner World Headquarters in North Kansas City.

Clay County officials confirmed that the Operation Safe COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic scheduled for Tuesday, which was in partnership with the Missouri National Guard, has been canceled due to extreme temperatures.

However, the clinics planned for Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Cerner will continue as planned.

Vaccinations will continue at other locations outside of the mass vaccination events, but state officials said it’s best to check with those providers to be sure they haven’t also been forced to adjust their schedule.