Governor Mike Parson announced Monday afternoon this week's COVID-19 mass vaccination event at the Mexico Memorial Airport-Hagan Brothers Field in Mexico, scheduled for Friday, February 19, is being canceled in the interest of safety due to extreme winter weather.

This event was for those that received their first does of the Pfizer vaccine on Friday, January 29th at the first drive-thru event at the airport.

“Missouri is experiencing severe winter weather that makes driving dangerous and threatens the health and safety of anyone exposed to the cold. These conditions will also likely delay some vaccine shipments,” Governor Parson said. “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.”

ACHD Administrator/CEO Craig Brace echoed Parson’s announcement.

“The safety of our residents receiving the vaccine and those administering and helping support the administration is paramount and, so, we agree wholeheartedly with this decision,” he said. “Recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control shows the second vaccine can be administered anywhere from 21 to 42 days after the administration of the first dose, so, fear not, if you were scheduled to receive the vaccine at this event, you will still receive the second dose at an event in the very near future.”

Brace said details on that event will be forthcoming before the end of this week after members of the ACHD, the Missouri National Guard and the Audrain County Emergency Management Agency are able to meet and decide on the best date possible for residents and all involved. Residents should continue to monitor the ACHD Facebook page and local media outlets for updates as to when the next date will be.

Those with appointments or scheduled vaccinations with other providers this week should check with their local provider for any potential schedule changes.