The Platte County Health Department issued its own guidance this week about the new COVID-19 vaccines now becoming available.
The health department urges residents to take time to learn about the vaccine, get their questions answered and consider vaccination to help protect themselves and their loved ones.
“The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have proven safe and effective for adults ages 18 and above,” according to Mary Jo Vernon, health department director. “We hope to vaccinate everyone who wishes to receive the vaccine by the middle of 2021.”
In Missouri, the first people to receive the vaccine include residents and staff at long-term care facilities, patient-facing health care workers with co-morbidities, followed by remaining patient-facing health care workers.
CVS, Walgreens and hospital systems are administering the vaccine in the first phase, referred to as Phase 1A. Local health departments will join the effort in Phase 1B, when the vaccine will become available to first responders, those with underlying health problems, the elderly and essential workers. School employees and child care providers are likely to be included in this group.
Federal authorities placed the responsibility of establishing vaccine prioritization and distribution with state governments. In Missouri, the authority for setting these priority groups exists with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). Vaccine prioritization is necessary to effectively provide protection first to those with the greatest risk factors.
Dr. Randall Williams, director of DHSS, is happy with the initial rollout.
“The first week of vaccinations among health care workers in Missouri went extremely well,” Williams said. “We are appreciative of the health care systems for quickly executing their plans in order to administer the Pfizer vaccines as efficiently as possible. This is just the beginning, and there are thousands of health care workers still to be vaccinated.”
When Phase 1B of the rollout will begin is not yet clear.
“Our supply from our federal partners will dictate the speed at which these vaccinations can continue to occur, and we will continue to be flexible and adapt to any changes that may be presented to us,” Williams said.
In the final phase, the general public will receive the vaccine. When there is enough vaccine for widespread distribution, there will be many places, in addition to local health departments, where people can get vaccinated: Pharmacies, Walmart, some grocery stores and possibly Costco.
Walgreens and CVS expect to have doses available to the general public in early spring. Vaccinations at CVS will be appointment-only, with people signing up for both their first and second shots when they register on CVS.com or the company’s app.
Dustin Guest, immunization coordinator at the Platte County Health Department, appreciates the private-public partnership in administering the vaccine quickly and efficiently.
“Offering the vaccine at a variety of places, in addition to local health departments, increases access for everyone,” Guest said.
Vernon said the Platte County Health Department has been approved as a vaccination site by DHSS.
“We are finalizing COVID vaccination plans to include offering the vaccine at various sites throughout the county to the population approved by DHSS within the various phases,” Vernon said. “We will continue to provide updates through our local newspapers, TV stations, and social media as more detailed information becomes available to us.”
Residents and providers are encouraged to learn more about COVID-19 vaccines in Missouri at covidvaccine.mo.gov/or by visiting Platte County Health Department’s website at plattecountyhealthdept.com and clicking on the alert banner at the top of the page.