Some Missouri lawmakers get vaccine doses meant for others
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
A number of state lawmakers and staff members received coronavirus vaccine doses meant for essential state workers Wednesday.
A spokesman for the Missouri Democratic Party confirmed that lawmakers from both major parties got in line for the shots, which were intended for other state workers.
The spokesman said House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, and others received calls Wednesday saying that vaccine was available for all state employees. Quade then sent a message to her caucus telling them the shots were available before later finding out the shots were meant only for certain employees, according to the party spokesman, Marc Powers.
"No one with our caucus had any intention to step out of turn, and we deeply regret that's what happened," Powers said Thursday. "It was an honest misunderstanding based on bad information and confusion about the process."
The Missouri Independent reported that the shots were meant for workers in the Department of Public Safety and Department of Transportation. The shots were administered at the Capitol Plaza Hotel.
Missouri is in Tier 2 of Phase 1B of its coronavirus vaccination plan. Tier 2 includes people 65 and older and those with certain medical conditions that put them at higher risk of developing COVID-19. First responders and emergency services workers are in Tier 1, for which vaccination is ongoing.
Government officials are in Tier 3 of the vaccination plan, which is yet to be activated. In many areas of the state, people in Tier 2 are still unable to get their first coronavirus vaccine shot.
It's not clear how many lawmakers received shots that were not intended for them.
Gov. Parson said today during his Office of Childhood press conference that "Everyone in this building knows the guidelines to get a vaccine. If you got a vaccine yesterday and you don't have an underlying health condition and you are under 65 years old and you used your position to be able to a vaccine is totally uncalled for. For the people that were in line 65-year-old, the people that qualify for that shot definitely deserve better than that from elected officials here in this state."