MISSOURI – Phase 1B – Level 2 of the Missouri vaccination plan will start on Monday, although most middle Missouri counties do not start at this level, which includes high-risk individuals and anyone over 65.
The activation comes after Governor Mike Parson and the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services announced the activation of Phase 1B – Level 1 last Thursday.
Phase 1B – Level 2 will focus on those who are most at risk for serious illness, including anyone over 65. According to the state’s vaccination plan, these high-risk individuals include any adult with:
- Cancer
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- COPD
- Heart problems
- Weakened immune system due to organ transplant
- Severe obesity (BMI> 40)
- Pregnancy
- Sickle cell anemia
- Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
- Individuals with intellectual and / or developmental disabilities, such as Down Syndrome
DHHS clarified in Twitter last Friday that “vaccinators 1A who have supplies available can start vaccination for Phase 1B – Level 1 and 1B – Level 2 on Monday.”
In Boone County, the health department said supplies were not available among vaccinators.
“All vaccinators and hospital systems discussed this and realized that no one was able to move forward yet,” said Ashton Day, an educator in the Boone County Health Department. “And again, that can change from week to week, depending on how much vaccine is delivered.”
DHHS said that although the next layer has been activated, there are currently not enough vaccines for everyone in them.
“Based on the new federal guidelines, we anticipate additional vaccine supplies,” said DHSS.
For more information on Phase 1B and the three levels, click here.
To send an email with questions to the Columbia / Boone County PHHS, click here and then click on the blue box further down the page.
To subscribe to notifications when vaccines are available to them in Columbia / Boone County, complete this form. The PHHS says it will give the department a way to contact those in the groups being vaccinated, but it does not guarantee when and where a dose will be available.