CMH; CoxHealth Receive COVID-19 Vaccines

Citizens Memorial Hospital and CoxHealth both announced receiving their first doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on Monday.

CoxHealth received the vaccine at their Branson and Monett locations. Dr. Shawn Usery, chief medical officer, received the first dose of the vaccine at Cox Branson.

“Today’s a great day,” Dr. Usery said just before receiving the vaccine. “We’re doing this for our community, for our patients, and for our families.”

The main shipment of vaccines for Cox South in Springfield did not arrive as scheduled Monday and CEO Steve Edwards believes they will arrive on Tuesday. Cox Branson received 700 doses. Cox Branson staff had 100 signed up to receive the vaccine on the first day, so doses were able to be brought to Springfield for the 300 employees signed up for day one.

Cox Monett received around 100 doses.

Citizens Memorial Hospital reported receiving 700 doses of the vaccine for front-line hospital and long-term care staff & long-term care residents.

“We anticipate additional doses for CMH employees and long-term care residents arriving in the days and weeks ahead,” Mariah Hollabaugh, PharmD, CMH system pharmacy director, said in a statement.

The first doses for CMH are scheduled to be given Tuesday morning.