In Springfield, Missouri, a Covid surge leads to uptick in vaccinations
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
John Alarid, the pastor of Freedom City Church in Springfield, Missouri, and his wife, Hannah-Rose, said they were wary of the coronavirus vaccine because it had not undergone "long-term studies." But the couple got the first shot of the Pfizer vaccine last week, driven in large part by the recent spike in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations in their city.
In a video on Facebook, both admitted to a squeamishness with needles — the tattooed Alarid noting the irony as a former heroin user — but said "the risk is worth it considering Covid is taking out a lot of lives."
"It's either the unknown possibilities or the present reality," Alarid said over the phone Wednesday. "People are dying. Most of the people in the hospital are unvaccinated, and so we decided that we needed to be an example in our community."
As the delta variant continues to rapidly spread across the United States, it appears people who were once hesitant or skeptical of the Covid vaccines in the Springfield area have increasingly reconsidered. Leaders in Springfield credit a renewed push to convince those reluctant to get the shot, as well as residents having to face the stark realities of the recent outbreak.
John Alarid, the pastor of Freedom City Church in Springfield, Mo., his wife, Hannah-Rose, and their children.Hannah-Rose Alarid
Springfield officials have tapped faith leaders and community groups to encourage those who were undecided and doubtful, especially as vaccination rates slowed in recent months and the number of infections have overrun nearby hospitals and counties.
In response, it appears people in the region are making the decision to get vaccinated in growing numbers. Over the first three weeks of July, residents in Greene County, where Springfield is the county seat, have already received more first-dose vaccinations than they did through all of June, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. Neighboring Christian County, another Covid hot spot, has outstripped its June numbers by nearly 30 percent.
"We almost ran out of vaccine about a week ago just because the increase we saw didn't match what we expected," said Dr. Matthew Stinson, vice president of medical and behavioral health services at Jordan Valley Community Health Center, which has provided nearly 97,000 Covid vaccine doses in the region. "I think there is a growing fear of getting Covid that is overwhelming the fear of the vaccine."
Concerns grow about spread of COVID-19 among the unvaccinated
In an echo of events in March 2020 and after, Springfield is beginning to face shutdowns and quarantines again.
Alarid said one of the recovery homes his church manages experienced a Covid outbreak in recent weeks, requiring residents to quarantine. On Tuesday, the church had to cancel its Festival of Hope for the second year in a row, after holding it for the previous nine years. On Wednesday, Alarid said a fundraising banquet for the recovery home that was scheduled in two weeks will now take place online, instead of in person as planned.
These choices, along with his decision to get vaccinated and follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance in his church, has led to pushback from members within the congregation. Some people have left the church, and he said he's heard theories ranging from the vaccine containing alien blood to it being "the mark of the beast."
"I got some pretty crazy and negative Facebook messages and emails, but we believe caring for the community means protecting the safety of our people in every way," Alarid said. "We're not just protecting people spiritually, but also mentally, emotionally and physically. We want to provide a safe environment. It's just a shame that this has become politicized."
Doctors and other leaders in the region said politicization has become one of the toughest hurdles to overcome, but they also said the desire to receive the vaccination has increased as people in Springfield and the surrounding area see their family members and friends get sick.
People line up to receive Covid-19 vaccines at the James River Church West Campus in Springfield, Mo. during a vaccine clinic put on by Jordan Valley Community Health Center on July 12, 2021.Nathan Papes / Springfield News-Leader / USA Today Network
In part, the renewed interest comes as regional hospitals are increasingly overwhelmed by sick coronavirus patients. Medical facilities are again seeing their resources stretched to the breaking point, causing many to put out calls for ventilators and support staff.
"We're all exhausted," said Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, an infectious disease physician at a Veterans Affairs hospital in St. Louis and member of the city's board of health. "Even I started to believe that things were going to ease up, things were going to get better for me professionally and personally. Then delta came, and it's a gut punch."
Mercy Hospital Springfield announced Wednesday it would open its third coronavirus ward as the number of Covid patients it was treating rose to 146 — more than half under the age of 60. Its peak number of hospitalized patients during the winter surge was 113 on Dec. 28.
Dr. William Sistrunk, lead infectious disease physician at Mercy Hospital Springfield, said more than 90 percent of the strains they now report to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are the delta variant, which he said is more contagious and "more aggressive as far as causing severe illness" in unvaccinated individuals.
"Everyone needs to realize that this is not just another wave like we saw before," Sistrunk said. "It's going to require more health care utilization because we're seeing more patients going to the ICU or rapidly getting worse. This is a much more aggressive strain that's leading to more lung disease and greater oxygen support needs."
"This isn't just going to be happening in Springfield: This is coming for the whole nation; this is coming to your community," Sistrunk warned. "We all need to get ready for that."
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I lived 50 miles south of Springfield for six years and there are two very good health care corporations there, Cox Medical and Mercy. The CEO of Cox went on a bit of a rant the other day about people that aren't getting vaccinated. Cox is also bringing in outside nurses over 100 to meet the flood of covid patients that are coming in.
Stone county where I lived has a vaccination rate of 32.6%, the positivity rate is 21% and they wonder why there is a problem. DUH
Florida where I live is experiencing a huge surge in cases over 12,000 yesterday and our brilliant governor, Desantis claims it's a ''seasonal thing''...
Which season? Summer, Summer, Spring, Summer?
All of the above.
Desantis knows that every day is "Covid Season". He's just put his desire to be president over the health and safety of the people of Florida. Just imagine how much damage he could do as POTUS..... Need to keep him in Florida to minimize the damage.
Here is a good link to what is happening in Jacksonville with the major hospitals.
As far as I'm concerned, at this point, it should be/they should be charged with criminal negligence or whatever the term is/complete disregard for other human lives, for these ignorant scum who claim just ignorant nonsense like DeSantis and Fux 'news'.
I can't remember which, but last week one of them was reporting more hospitalizations than at any time last year.
People pretending it's over doesn't make it over.
My vaccine-hesitant hairdresser is finally getting her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine today. Delta variant has her scared.
Logic, reason, nor science made any difference with your hairdresser. It took fear for her to get the vaccine.
Her husband and son both had Covid before the vaccine was available, and her husband joked about her following him around the house with a can of Lysol. So she was scared, but she was more scared of the vaccine until now.
In my state, with one of the lowest vaccination rates, people are walking around as normal. Almost no one wearing a mask and not getting vaccinated.
Cases are doubling and these idiots are gathering and spreading like they are on spring break.
Covid, at least here in the US is now the pandemic for the stupid.
Today's figures are in, the US had over 64,000 new COVID cases and 411 deaths. Florida leads the way once again with over 13,000 cases and 148 deaths.
Some hospitals are now limiting some of their elective surgery in Florida.
Morning. Melbourne today has 12 new cases and all linked to an out break already detected. No community transmission. Qld is zero. NSW the figures aren't out yet but would expect around 130 odd today...but still got ferals wandering around up there in the community while infected.
Time to chuck a few in jail. Sick of the excuse they are confused... confused my arse, try arrogant. The virus has been going nearly two years, if they don't know now, they never will.
From what I know of Florida it is a retirement meca and an elderly population?? Surely most of them would get the vaccine? Here they give the breakdown of ages. Is it mainly elderly people who are passing there or younger?
They're confused because their heads are firmly stuck up their ass.
NSW figures just in 163... hope your family stay safe...
Florida has a very large retirement population and from what I can tell about 65 to 70 % have been vaccinated. The rest of the population is much less. Overall Florida is at 48% of the population vaccinated.
With the new Delta virus its now mostly people under 50 that are getting the virus and being hospitalized and also the majority of the deaths.
163 new cases with a population the size of NSW wouldn't even be a blip here.