Number of people receiving third COVID-19 shots surpasses first, second doses in October

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Data from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services shows more people have gotten their third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine than first or second doses since the Pfizer vaccine was approved for third doses by the FDA.

According to the state COVID dashboard, 85,326 doses of the COVID vaccine have been administered in the past week. More than half of those were third doses, 47,405 to be exact. When the data is broken down by county, the ratio of third doses to first and second is more dramatic.

The third dose Pfizer COVID vaccine was granted emergency approval by the FDA for everyone, not just immunocompromised people, on Sept. 22. Booster doses of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available to immunocompromised or high-risk people already, but the FDA is expected to approve them in the following days for everyone.

People who qualify for a third shot can go to any pharmacy or doctor's office that offers the Pfizer vaccine and receive one the same way they received their first dose. It does not cost the patient anything and insurance is not required.

Anthony Desha, one of the owners of Flow's Pharmacy in Columbia, told ABC 17 he's noticed people are coming to get third doses more than any other dose of the COVID vaccine.

"I'd say in the last week maybe two initial doses and probably 20 or 25 boosters," Desha said.

Desha said he hadn't noticed a pattern in the people receiving boosters; they've been young and old alike.