No one gets COVID-19 vaccine at the St. Charles County Fair booth

ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. – County leaders were hoping the annual St. Charles County Fair would help boost vaccinations there, the number of people rolling up their sleeves hasn’t worked out well.

It was day four of the St. Charles County Fair, and sure enough, a lot of people got hold of the traditional corn cob, funnel cakes, and corn dogs. But this year, county leaders were also hoping festival-goers would flock to this mobile van for something a little unusual: a COVID-19 vaccine.

“Every vaccination counts right now,” said Sara Evers, acting director of the St. Charles County Department of Health.

COVID-19 cases continue to rise in St. Charles County, driven by the delta variant. For now, they’re looking at the positives.

“The deaths have slowed down,” Evers said. “We don’t see the number we saw last fall or last winter.”

Also in an effort to curb the worrying rise in cases, county leaders visited this mobile command post, hoping it would encourage unvaccinated worshipers to roll up their sleeves.

“If we vaccinate one person, it’s wonderful. If we vaccinate 100 people at an event, that would be better,” she said.

Currently, approximately 45% of residents of St. Charles County are fully immunized, according to the Missouri Vaccine Dashboard. County officials were hoping the big fair would help increase that number, but it doesn’t.

“It’s disappointing,” said Nick Kohlberg of the St. Charles County Health Department.

“Disappointing” because after spending two days at the fair, their COVID awareness teams did not vaccinate anyone.

“I wish more people would get vaccinated,” said a participant at the fair.

The same goes for the more than ready health team.

They will hit two more county events on Saturday.

“We’re just going to do our best to reach as many people as possible,” Kohlberg said.

On Saturday, the health department will be offering free COVID-19 vaccinations at the Boys and Girls Club in St. Charles County from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

They will also be at Kinetic Park in Dardenne Prairie from noon to 2:30 p.m.