Traffic backed up on Highway 54. Parking lots near the airport filled with waiting vehicles and a few drivers tried to set up on the shoulder. People were said to be hustling over from as far as Kansas City. And it was said that a fight broke out.

But all the chaos – real and rumored – occurred before the mass vaccination event began on Friday. By the time lines were formed and the first shots delivered, the process was orderly, if a bit deliberate.

Members of the Missouri Army and Air Force National Guard, with the help of the Audrain County Health Department, delivered some 1,600 Pfizer COVID-19 vaccinations during the clinic, set up on the runways and taxi lanes at Mexico Memorial Airport Hagan Brothers Field.

Guard members formed vehicles into several lines which moved – slowly and in stages – through three stations. The first was for paperwork and the next to check that forms had been filled out correctly.

At the final station medics delivered shots in groups of 10 in order that the required 15 minute wait time would be equal.

The 15-minute period is standard to ensure there are no negative reactions to the vaccine.

ACHD Administrator and CEO Craig Brace said the medics delivered around 100 shots in the first half hour alone.

“It’s really going very smoothly,” he added.

The entire process took up to two hours, according to some waiting in line. But most people settled in their cars seemed to accept the pace. Most issues involved people locating restrooms, water and food.

The vaccinations were limited to people in Phase 1B, Tiers 1 and 2 – the state’s categories for people 65 and older, as well as adults with high risk conditions.

Mexico was one of nine locations selected for the mass vaccination program. The Missouri National Guard was hoping to kickstart the state’s lagging vaccination numbers by administering 18,000 shots statewide.

The Centers for Disease Control last week listed Missouri as the state reporting the lowest first dose vaccination numbers.

Only 4.3 percent of residents had received shots at the time of the report. That increased to 5.7 percent Friday.

Of the nine locations across the state, Mexico was reportedly the only one that did not require preregistration.

“There are no restrictions, other than Phase 1B, Tier 1 and Tier 2,” Brace said.

ACHD officials reported that only five people were turned away on Friday for not meeting these requirements.

That the event happened was the result of fast work by several agencies. ACHD learned that Mexico had been selected the previous Friday, leaving them just a few days to find a place to host the event and organize everything.

Presiding County Commissioner Steve Hobbs suggested the airport. The directors at the airport convinced the FAA to allow them to close the entire facility to air traffic. Mexico city officials were involved in the discussion, as well as the Audrain County Emergency Management Agency, law enforcement agencies and first responders.

“This was a herculean effort to pull off with only four days of planning in place around the event,” Brace said. “I am so proud of how this community came together in order to make this event the success it turned out to be.”

A second round of vaccinations is scheduled for Feb. 19 at the airport. This is a second dose and available only for the 1,600 who received shots on Friday.