Coronavirus vaccine distributors transition to direct vaccine appointment scheduling
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Due to the shrinking number of vaccine-eligible people on online surveys and more consistent shipments of coronavirus vaccine doses, some providers are switching to a direct vaccine appointment scheduling system.
MU Health Care has said, instead of only emailing people from surveys, it will post scheduling links on its website when doses become available.
“This new invitation system will help us ensure that no appointments go unfilled and that everyone who is eligible has an opportunity to schedule an appointment,” said Brad Myers, MU Health Care executive director of pharmacy and laboratory services.
Myers said they used this new system in the mass vaccination clinic last weekend. The process helped them to fill over 3,000 open slots.
Shipments are becoming more routine throughout the state. Select pharmacies in Boone County are expected to receive 100 doses each week for the next four weeks as a part of the state's weekly vaccine allotment guaranteed, which was recently announced by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson.
Stephanie Whitaker, communications specialist for the state, said, "We expect an allocation of approximately 135,000 Pfizer and Moderna vaccines from the federal government."
Whitaker said the total number of vaccines given to pharmacies will increase week to week depending on what the federal government sends.
Owners from Kinkead Pharmacy, Flow's Pharmacy, D&H Drugstore and Kilgore's Medical Pharmacy have all told ABC 17 that each is expecting to receive doses of Moderna's vaccine.
A total of 161 pharmacies in 84 counties have been selected based on ability, location and population.
Darran Alberty with D&H Drugstore said he plans to update the store's websites to include a self-schedule model for vaccination appointments. It's the same model that MU Health Care will switch to.
Alberty said this change is important for people that have been struggling to track down vaccines. This will give them an opportunity to know exactly where the doses will be each week.
Alberty said it is his understanding that when it is time for them to give out second doses, the total shipment will consist of 200 doses.
A spokesman for Kinkead Pharmacy said it expects to receive the doses Tuesday or Wednesday and be able to distribute them on Thursday. Many others are still unsure of the timeline but are preparing lists of those eligible to be able to schedule appointments as soon as they know more.
These routine shipments come just before Tier 3 will become eligible throughout the state.
Hy-Vee has also been administering doses through the store's pharmacy. Christina Gayman with Hy-Vee said weekly allocations have fluctuated, however, there has been a steady increase in the number of doses being received.
Region F will have 22 total pharmacy locations. A map of vaccine providers throughout the state is also provided.
The Columbia/Boone County health department will give out approximately 2,300 vaccine doses at the Columbia Sports Fieldhouse on Friday. Appointments will begin at 9 a.m. and will be available until 5:30 p.m.
