National Guard to scale back COVID-19 vaccine support

Members of the Missouri Army National Guard assisted state and local health agencies Feb. 5 at The Linc by directing traffic. There was a steady line of vehicles in the area for hours as people who pre-registered for the vaccine went to get their shot.
Members of the Missouri Army National Guard assisted state and local health agencies Feb. 5 at The Linc by directing traffic. There was a steady line of vehicles in the area for hours as people who pre-registered for the vaccine went to get their shot.

The Missouri National Guard has begun scaling back its involvement at mass vaccination site locations in May. The draw-down of Guard members is set to be completed by June 1.

A significant drop in demand for COVID-19 vaccinations has spurred the change, Gov. Mike Parson said in a statement.

The Guard will continue its targeted vaccination teams in St. Louis and Kansas City. Members will continue to assist in staffing the Department of Health and Senior Services' COVID-19 hotline and provide support for Missouri food banks and food pantries.

The Guard's efforts have played a significant role in putting Missouri in a "good place on the vaccine front," Parson said.

State-supported vaccination teams have conducted hundreds of vaccine clinics and administered more than 382,000 vaccinations, representing nearly 10 percent of those administered across Missouri, a governor's office news release said.

The State Emergency Management Agency will continue to supply PPE for local events and will also continue its efforts in providing clinical and non-clinical volunteers as needed for local events.

The state is also working with vaccinators across the state - including health care systems, pharmacies, local public health agencies and other community providers - to promote more convenience-driven options like walk-up availability and extended hours of operation.

Data show that 80 percent of Missourians have access to a vaccine within a five-mile radius of their homes, because of the network of local vaccine providers across Missouri.

Patients have received more than 4 million vaccine doses in Missouri. About 2.4 million Missourians have initiated a vaccination, and more than 1.8 million are fully vaccinated. Missouri's dashboard shows that over 38 percent of Missourians have initiated a vaccination, and about 50 percent of Missourians 18 and older have received at least one dose.

About 66 percent of Missourians 65 and older some of the most vulnerable residents are fully vaccinated, and 76 percent have received at least one dose.