As our state continues to distribute the COVID-19 vaccines, I wanted to provide a few resources about the life-saving medicine and how to pre-register to receive one of the vaccines. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has created a website, covidvaccine.mo.gov, to answer any questions you may have regarding the available vaccines. The department specifically created a page on their COVID website, covidvaccine.mo.gov/navigator, to allow Missourians to register to be notified on when they will be eligible to receive one of the vaccines. If you do not have internet access, you can call the COVID-19 hotline at 877-435-8411. Additionally, MU Health Care, the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services and the Cooper County Health Department have also released surveys to allow residents to request information on vaccine eligibility. If you are looking for more information about receiving one of the available COVID vaccines, I encourage you to sign up through any of these available resources.
It is hard to believe with the mild temperatures last week that we are now experiencing a wind chill in the single digits. As the severe winter weather continues this week, you may need to check road conditions before you leave the house. You can visit the Missouri Department of Transportation’s website, modot.org, as well as view road conditions through the MODOT Traveler’s Map at traveler.modot.org/map. The department also offers a mobile app version of their Traveler’s Map. You can also view weather updates on the KOMU 8 Weather app, the ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather app and the KRCG 13 Weather Authority app. As always, use caution when driving and leave plenty of space between you and other cars when dealing with winter weather. If you do not need to go out, it is best to stay home, but if you must be out on the roads, please slow down and stay safe.
This Monday, Feb. 15, we will celebrate Presidents Day in honor of President George Washington’s Birthday. Each year, this holiday is observed on the third Monday in February to celebrate Washington and Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, which is Feb. 12, as well as every other president who has served our great country. The Missouri Senate will be in session on Monday, but the Senate will be closed on Friday, Feb. 12, in observance of Lincoln’s Birthday.