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If Missouri’s providers aren’t using vaccine promptly, their future shipments may decrease
The same day the state launched a new dashboard detailing the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses distributed throughout Missouri, state officials made it clear that local providers must move more quickly to administer doses and report data — or risk seeing future shipments decrease. And that warning comes from the governor himself. “The comment that […]
Missouri health director says he’ll testify to lawmakers on vaccine rollout next week
Democratic lawmakers expressed frustration this week when two key figures leading Missouri’s vaccine distribution abruptly canceled their scheduled testimony before a House committee Wednesday evening. However, Randall Williams, the director of the Department of Health and Senior Services, said the time of the hearing was changed without checking with him — and that he offered […]
Missouri legislators, staff receive COVID vaccine intended for other state employees
Some Missouri state lawmakers received the initial doses of COVID vaccine Wednesday at an event that was intended for employees from Missouri’s Department of Public Safety and Department of Transportation. Ahead of Gov. Mike Parson’s State of the State speech, Democratic and Republican members of the House and Senate were seen entering and leaving the […]
Black Missourians have only received 4% of the COVID vaccines administered so far
Black residents in Missouri have received roughly 4 percent of the total COVID vaccines administered, despite making up 11 percent of the population, according to a new dashboard the state launched Tuesday. The dashboard sheds light for the first time on detailed demographic data and a county-by-county breakdown of where COVID vaccines have been given […]
Missouri ranks last in residents vaccinated, near bottom in percent of vaccines administered
Out of the 50 states, Missouri ranks last in the nation in terms of the percentage of its residents who have received the initial shot of a COVID vaccine. Only 4 percent of Missouri residents have received the first of two shots, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention compiled by […]
Mass COVID vaccinations are starting in Missouri. But supply of doses remains limited
Mass vaccinations are already underway across the state, with the Missouri National Guard activated to help get shots in arms at its first event in Poplar Bluff Friday. But with demand still outpacing the state’s limited supply, some public health officials on the state’s Advisory Committee on Equitable COVID Vaccine Distribution expressed concern Thursday that […]
Republican lawmakers seek to curb local control over COVID-19 health orders
When Missouri’s top leaders resisted implementing statewide restrictions, like a mask mandate, amid the pandemic, there was a theme they repeatedly raised as the basis for their decisions. Local control. On Wednesday, a Missouri Senate committee debated a slew of bills filed by Republican lawmakers that aim to strip local authority from city and county […]
Missouri map shows where you can get a vaccine. Not all providers listed have doses
Wondering where to go to get a coronavirus vaccine in Missouri? On Friday, the state launched an interactive map detailing where over 1,100 providers are located across the state. But not all locations identified on the map as providing the vaccine actually have vaccines on hand to administer. And reports that the federal government has […]
First responders, anyone over 65, those with certain conditions to start receiving COVID vaccine in Missouri
First responders and emergency medical services can receive their initial dose of a coronavirus vaccine, with Missourians 65 years and older and those with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk eligible to receive their first doses Monday. Missouri state health officials activated the next tiers of “Phase 1B” residents in light of […]
A committee advises Missouri’s vaccine rollout. Now the public can watch its meetings
As state health officials rolled out Missouri’s plan to distribute the coronavirus vaccine, decisions were informed by a group called the Advisory Committee on Equitable COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution. For the first time on Thursday at 1 p.m., the public will be allowed to observe the committee’s discussions. It’s unclear how often the committee has previously […]
Nearly a quarter of Missourians would ‘definitely not’ get a COVID vaccine, poll finds
As the state works through the first phases of its coronavirus vaccine rollout, a new poll released Monday finds that about 23 percent of Missourians would “definitely not get it.” The poll, conducted by the Virginia-based American Viewpoint for the Missouri Hospital Association, surveyed 800 Missourians in the first week of January on their feelings […]
Feds tell states to give COVID-19 vaccine to anyone 65 and older in bid to speed rollout
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Tuesday directed state officials to expand who is getting vaccinated for COVID-19, and announced that all available doses will be distributed to states instead of holding back a reserve of follow-up doses. Under the policy changes outlined by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, states should begin vaccinating […]