100,000 coronavirus vaccine doses given out in Missouri. Gov. Parson rebukes violent protests at U.S. Capitol
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Gov. Mike Parson and two state leaders gave updates on the COVID-19 pandemic and millions of dollars being given to Missouri's higher education institutions. The governor also rebuked violent protests that broke in Washington DC on Wednesday.
Watch the full briefing in the media player below.
Parson said the state is still working through the initial phase of the state's vaccination plan. He added state officials hope to have all frontline health care workers and nursing home residents and staff vaccinated by the end of the month. Once the state is close to completing phase 1A of the vaccination plan, it will move onto phase 1B which includes high-risk individuals, first responders and essential workers, Parson said.
In a tweet Wednesday morning, the governor said at least 100,000 doses of a coronavirus vaccine have been given out as of Wednesday.
This week, frontline health care workers started receiving their second dose of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine. The Truman VA is among the hospitals in the state that have started administering the second dose.
The governor continued during the conference and said the state will receive thousands of additional doses of the coronavirus vaccines currently available -- 37,000 of Pfizer's vaccine and 36,000 of Moderna's vaccine.
State health department director Dr. Randall Williams maintained every Missourian will be able to receive a vaccine. He included it could take longer than what was originally anticipated to get everyone vaccinated.
Williams did not say how much longer it could take to work through the vaccination plan. He did say the only thing holding the state back from speeding up the timeline is the federal government. Williams said he wasn't sure if anything could be done at the current moment to speed up how many vaccine doses the state receives from the national stockpile.
The health department director said Missouri accounts for 2% of the US population, so "We will get 2% of whatever is available."
Williams said it has been slow going getting the vaccine to private practices but a plan to smooth out that process is still in the works.
The state testing lab has not found any cases of the UK COVID-19 variant in Missouri as of Wednesday, Williams said. The health department director said workers at the state lab have been working through test samples going back to November looking for any cases of the variant -- as of yet, none have been identified. He said this work will continue until further notice.
Gov. Parson rebukes violent clash in D.C.
"I am a law and order guy. I don't care what you present to be what cause you're under, you don't violate the law - there are rules and regulations and you have to abide by them," Gov. Mike Parson said in response to his opinion on violent pro-Trump protests that erupted in DC Wednesday afternoon.
The governor said he had not been following the protests closely as of 3 p.m. but that the violence at the US Capitol was uncalled for.
Parson said, "Whether it was the middle of summer here in Missouri, or in DC, or at Josh Hawley's house, you don't violate the law."
A group of protesters held a demonstration outside of Sen. Hawley's DC residence earlier this week. DC police said the protest was peaceful.
When asked if the governor thought if the pro-Trump protesters were emboldened by the President, he said "Absolutely not."
He continued, "Anytime you have gatherings in DC, are they wrong to do that? No, everyone has the right to protest."
The governor reiterated at the end of his statement that protesters need to follow the rule of law.
State announces millions for repairs at higher education institutions
Gov. Parson and the state's higher education commissioner announced a million dollars investment for Missouri colleges and universities Wednesday afternoon.
Parson said $68 million dollars from a federal fund is being given to the state public universities and State Tech to fund repairs across those campuses.
Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development Commissioner Zora Mulligan said the federal funding will be used for various repairs including leaky roofs, heating and cooling systems, and renovating steam tunnels. Mulligan said many of the maintenance projects have been deferred for years.
Mulligan included $9.2 million is also being made available to community colleges.
The funding plans announced on Wednesday included $4 million in CARES Act money to repurpose a 15,000 square-foot facility at St. Louis Community College to provide child care.
