Long-term care communities wait for first shipment of Moderna coronavirus vaccine

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri is expecting its first shipments of the Moderna vaccine Monday, but as of Monday, it is not clear when long-term care communities will receive doses.

Long-term care communities will not be receiving the vaccine directly, it will be shipped to pharmacies who will then distribute it to facilities.

A spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Lisa Cox said, it's up to the pharmacy groups when nursing homes and other facilities will receive the vaccine.

"The CDC partnership with Walgreens and CVS has the pharmacies working directly with long-term care facilities, so when vaccinations occur in these facilities it will be up to the pharmacy groups," Cox said.

A spokesman for the Columbia/Boone County health department, Scott Clardy, said he doesn't know when the Moderna vaccine will be available in Boone County.

According to the state health department COVID-19 website, nursing home residents and staff members are next on the vaccine roll-out list after health care workers.

Dr. Randall Williams with the state health department said in a news release that shipments received from Pfizer and Moderna this week will continue to be for those listed in Phase 1A of the state's vaccination plan.

Angela Keeven with Cedarhurst, a long-term care community with facilities across Missouri, said she hopes the facilities will get their first shipment of the Moderna vaccine this week.

"We are anxiously awaiting to hear back from CVS with our specific vaccination clinic dates, so as soon as we receive the phone call confirming the dates we will be communicating that out with our residents, their families and employees," Keeven said.