State leaders give updates on COVID-19 and vaccine distribution

JEFFERSON CITY, MO (KMIZ)

Missouri has seen major improvements in COVID-19 cases, but still faces issues with vaccine supply.

Governor Mike Parson said at his briefing Thursday that Missouri's current rate for positive COVID-19 cases is at 7.6%, this is the first time the state has been under 10% since October. The state's current 7-day case rate is the lowest it has been since the summer.

Missouri's hospitalizations for COVID-19 patients has dropped to 1,400 statewide, Parson said this has decreased by half since November.

The state is moving in a postive direction with COVID-19 cases, but still struggles with a limited vaccine supply.

"I cannot stress enough that supply remains the number one issue restricting all Missourians who want a vaccine from receiving one.", said Parson.

In efforts to speed up the vaccination process, the federal government has partnered with Walmart and Healthmart pharmacies to vaccinate residents. Walmarts in 81 Missouri cities will begin vaccinations on Friday. Parson said the federal government allocates vaccine doses to those pharmacies and it does not affect the state's doses. The federal government will also allocate vaccine doses to federally qualified health centers (FQHC) in order to reach communities unable to get easy access to a vaccine.

"Starting next week FQHC's will begin receiving vaccine supply directly from the federal government to help reach underserved and vulnerable communities.", said Parson.

Governor Parson said the state hit it's highest record of vaccines administered in a day over the past week, with over 50,000 vaccines given in a single day. 81% of the vaccines Missouri received have already been administered by state vaccinators.

The state is hoping to see an increase in vaccine doses next month pending approval from the FDA of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Parson says the vaccine supply is still not enough to reach the demands of the public.

"Every vaccinator in every region is requesting more vaccine than they are currently receiving becomes simply the demand of the vaccine still far outweighs the supply and we are doing everything we can to get vaccines out as quickly as supply will allow."

The state's health director, Dr. Randall Williams, said he believes the state will receive a large supply of Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses as it did with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine. He expects the state will see double the amount of vaccine doses it receives next month if the Johnson and Johnson vaccine is approved. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses could come in as early as the week after it receives approval.

Johnson & Johnson has pledged 100 million doses of the vaccine by June, Pfizer and Moderna have pledged 200 million doses by June as well.

The FDA plans to meet on February 26th to determine if the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be approved.