Partnership Encourages Student Vaccinations August 3 & 5

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Hammons Field will be the host of the “Knock COVID Out of the Park” Vaccination Drives, presented by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, during the Tuesday, August 3 and Thursday, August 5 games. This is a partnership between Springfield Public Schools (SPS), Springfield Cardinals, Springfield-Greene County Health Department, Mercy and Foundation for Springfield Public Schools.

The events are available for area students, ages 12 and up, and each student vaccinated at these drives will receive two free tickets to that night’s game, courtesy of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. All students receiving the vaccine must have a parent or legal guardian with them.

Any fan who would like more information about the COVID-19 vaccines will be able to learn more during the events from representatives with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Mercy and Springfield Greene-County Health Department.

Check-in for the vaccinations will be located on the Main Plaza, right outside of Gate 3 at Hammons Field, with vaccines available for two hours starting when gates open each night. In addition to the two free tickets, eligible students who get the vaccine during these drives will receive a free backpack or duffel bag while supplies last, courtesy of Foundation for Springfield Public Schools.

Tuesday, August 3 Vaccine Drive details:

· Tuesday’s vaccine drive will go from 5:35 p.m. – 7:35 p.m.

· This game is also a Great Southern Bank $1 Dog Day, with hot dogs available all night for just a buck.

· First Pitch is 6:35 p.m. vs. the Tulsa Drillers.

Thursday, August 5 Vaccine Drive details:

· Thursday’s vaccine drive will go from 6:05 p.m. – 8:05 p.m.

· This game is also a Klement’s $1 Bratwurst Night, with Klement’s brats available all night for just a buck.

· First Pitch is 7:05 p.m. vs. the Tulsa Drillers.

“We appreciate these outstanding community partners for making this opportunity available for our students,” said Dr. Grenita Lathan, superintendent of SPS. “The vaccines are safe and they work remarkably well by preventing serious illness and hospitalization. We encourage everyone over the age of 12 to be vaccinated now. This will help us turn the page and reclaim a sense of normalcy, which is what we all want.”

“As we look ahead, vaccinations are an important tool in helping students who participate in sports or other extracurricular activities have an uninterrupted experience,” said Josh Scott, director of athletics for SPS. “If vaccinated and asymptomatic, students will not have to quarantine if a fellow team member tests positive. If enough of our students are vaccinated, that can make the difference between a team remaining viable or being sidelined by COVID-19.”

To learn more about the upcoming vaccination events, please watch this Public Service Announcement: https://youtu.be/4QVHGqX-8jI.

For additional vaccine information, please visit www.vaccine417.com today.

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri

In Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area) Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of RightCHOICE® Managed Care, Inc. (RIT), Healthy Alliance® Life Insurance Company (HALIC), and HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates administer non-HMO benefits underwritten by HALIC and HMO benefits underwritten by HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates only provide administrative services for self-funded plans and do not underwrite benefits. Independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri is available at www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/anthemBCBS and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AnthemBlueCrossBlueShield.

*About Springfield Public Schools
*Springfield Public Schools (SPS) is Missouri's largest school district, representing 23,500 students and nearly 3,500 employees. SPS has built a reputation of academic excellence rooted in a belief that the learning experience should be engaging, relevant and personal - for every learner, every day. In addition to traditional learning environments across 35 elementary schools, an intermediate school, nine middle schools, five high schools, a center for gifted education and three early childhood centers, SPS collaborates with community partners to offer more than a dozen choice programs that meet the unique needs of each student. For more information, visit www.sps.org.

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