Missouri vaccination numbers dropping as use of Johnson & Johnson resumes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri has seen a steady decline in the number of vaccinations given daily after an April 11 peak, according to the statewide vaccination dashboard.

On April 11, the seven-day average of vaccinations was 53,958. On Sunday that seven-day average had dropped to 28,614 -- a decline of 47%.

The average shows how many vaccine doses were administered each day during the last seven days, on average. Using the seven-day average is a more accurate measurement than daily totals, which see sharp declines on weekends.

To date, Missourians have received 3,736,018 coronavirus vaccine doses.

Mary Becker, the senior vice president of the Missouri Hospital Association, said 65% to 85% of the population needs to be vaccinated in order to reach herd immunity. According to the Missouri dashboard, 36.7% of the state population has received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine

Boone County has the highest vaccination rate in the state, with 43.3% of the population getting at least one dose of the vaccine. St. Louis is second, with 39.1% of the city population getting at least one dose of the vaccine.

Becker said the state is making good progress and the Missouri Hospital Association is encouraged by the vaccinations.

"The more that we learn about what people want to know, and what their concerns are, the better that we can provide information and education them," Becker said.

It's not clear exactly why the numbers are dropping so dramatically but recent polling from the Missouri Hospital Association found a strong correlation between the amount of information people have about the vaccine and how likely they are to be vaccinated.

"What we find is that the more information that people have regarding the vaccine, the more likely they are to be vaccinated," Becker said.

Recent re-approval of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine gives residents more options with getting vaccinated.

D&H Drugstore will receive Johnson & Johnson vaccine this week but was unsure of the exact day, the pharmacy says. Once the pharmacy receives the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, appointments will be up on its website, according to a pharmacist at the drugstore.

The Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Service had 200 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine Monday that it received before the 11-day pause in administering the vaccine after reports or rare blood clots.

"We actually at the health department have not given out any Johnson & Johnson because it was hard to get at first," health department spokeswoman Sara Humm said. "Then we actually did get 200 doses just right before the pause, so we haven't given any out, we still have the supply that we have received."

As of Monday morning, the department had not discussed plans for distributing the vaccine but Humm said it would likely be discussed sometime this week.

Flow's Pharmacy has 300 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Owner Anthony DeSha says the pharmacy plans to hold a drive-thru clinic next Friday, May 7 from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Individuals are able to call the pharmacy directly to schedule an appointment for 200 spots available for the event. 100 appointments were previously booked by people who signed up before the Johnson & Johnson pause.

Bill Morrissey, co-owner of Kilgore's Pharmacy, said the pharmacy is not carrying the Johnson & Johnson vaccine but still has appointments open for the Moderna vaccine.