Report: Urban areas struggle to vaccinate eligible Missourians

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Mass vaccination sites are underway across Mid-Missouri and some clinics are ending up with large amounts of extra vaccine doses.

In a report conducted by Deloitte Consulting, obtained by the Missouri Independent, urban centers are showing the largest "vaccination gap." The "gap" is the estimated number of eligible people who still are waiting to begin the vaccination process.

The report said the largest vaccination gaps were found in St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield, likely due to larger populations.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has communicated to vaccinators not to waste any doses because of the state's limited supply.

Spokeswoman for the health department, Lisa Cox, said vaccinators are asked to do everything they can to administer all doses of vaccine to eligible Missourians.

"With that said, there will be some rare situations when that is not possible due to a variety of circumstances, and in that case, we advise them to vaccinate any willing individual rather than waste the vaccine," Cox said.

While some clinics in rural areas have too many doses, other urban areas are struggling to vaccinate all eligible Missourians.

At a vaccine clinic in Boonville Tuesday, vaccine recipient Randy Schwarz traveled from Kansas City to get a vaccine shot. He said the clinic, which was over 100 miles away, was the closest he could find.

"It was tough finding an appointment but the DHSS system showed us a spot here and I was very excited to get [the vaccine]," Schwarz said.

Cooper County Health Department Administrator Melanie Hutton said the department only opens up vaccine doses to the public so they don't get wasted.

"We try really hard to stick with it the best we can, but if we have to choose between wasting a dose and getting it to an arm of a willing person before it expires, we will do that," Hutton said.

After the two day clinic at the Isle of Capri Casino Hotel in Boonville, the Cooper County Health Department had 330 leftover doses and is planning an emergency vaccine clinic for Friday. As of now, Hutton said all slots are filed by eligible Missourians.

The state health department has worked with county health departments to make sure vaccinators are receiving doses that more closely match the current need of the community.

"This is unchartered territory for everyone, and we are always working to learn and improve processes along the way," Hutton said.