Health officials ask for leftover doses of coronavirus vaccine to go to eligible Missourians
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
As mass vaccination clinics continue throughout Missouri, thousands of eligible people are still waiting to receive the vaccine. However, reports have surfaced that some clinics are ending up with extra doses and allowing anyone to get the shot.
In a news conference last week, Gov. Mike Parson said the goal is to make sure only those who are eligible to get the vaccine are getting the shot even if doses are left at the end.
"The priorities are the most vulnerable citizens, it's not a perfect system but I am telling you the vast majority of people are trying to do the right thing," he said.
The state is now vaccinating people up to Tier 2 of Phase 1B of its vaccine distribution plan, which includes people 65 and older and those with certain health conditions. Parson said last week the state will move to Tier 3 on March 15, which includes teachers, childcare workers and grocery workers.
Hundreds of extra doses were left over after some mass vaccination clinics in rural areas. In Putnam County, health officials took to social media to spread the word that anyone could get the vaccine if they were 18 and older.
"We try our best to make sure those things are not happening, but unfortunately every county and town have a health department, some are much better equip to handle situations like this than others," Parson said.
Over in Cooper County, a spokesperson for the health department, Melanie Hutton said sometimes it comes down to either wasting a dose or giving it to someone who wants it.
"We try real 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," she said.
Before opening it up to anyone, Hutton said they make phone calls to all residents first to see if eligible community members are interested.
"Today the turnout has not been as much as expected, we have had some no shows we are in the middle of contacting some local residents to come in," she said.
Marsha Broadus with the Howard County Health Department said the state has not given her any specific guidance on how to handle extra doses of the vaccine.
"No they haven't told us but we know, like the governor said we are supposed to follow the guidelines and distribute extra doses to the correct tiers," she said.
The Howard County Health Department has not had a mass vaccination clinic yet, but is prepared to deal with extra doses.
"I am going to follow the rules," she said. "They haven't told me specific guidance but I would be going by the Phase 1B Tier 2."
Mike O’Connell, communications director for the Missouri Department of Public Safety, said remaining doses should be redistributed for use within the region in which the event was held and given to eligible individuals.
"This was reemphasized by DHSS on a call with local partners last week so that they were not under the misimpression doses would not be utilized and would not routinely provide vaccinations to individuals who are not eligible," he said.
The Audrain County Health Department was 160 individuals short of its anticipated 2,332 who signed up to receive their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine last week.
Chris Newbrough with the Audrain County Health Department said a total of 11 vials, or 55 unused doses, were redistributed to Cole County Health Department to be used at another mass vaccination event.
