Governor Mike Parson released the names of the healthcare centers in each of the state’s nine regions that will receive COVID-19 vaccines as part of the state’s partnership with High Throughput Health Centers (HTHC).
A news release says selected hospitals have the capability to administer a minimum of 5,000 vaccines per week. Hospitals not selected as high throughput vaccinators are considered community providers and may request vaccines through the established process with the Department of Health and Senior Services.
Vaccines distributed to HTHCs are only one component of the state’s current COVID-19 vaccine distribution framework. There are six provider categories used to distribute Missouri’s allotment of vaccines from the federal government to each region. Due to increases in vaccine supply, the state’s model has been modified.
Current categories include:
• High Throughput Health Centers: 41 percent;
• Mass Vaccination Events: 22 percent;
• Local Public Health Agencies: 7 percent;
• Federally Qualified Health Centers: 8 percent;
• Community/Enrolled Providers: 7 percent; and
• Vaccine Desert Mitigation: 15 percent.
The distribution through these categories combined is how the state ensures equitable and efficient vaccine distribution to each of Missouri’s nine regions. The state assesses the varying needs and health care infrastructure available in each region to help determine which providers may best serve each region.
Some regions may rely more heavily on certain distribution categories than others, but once finalized, each region receives a percentage of the state’s total vaccine allocation that is approximate to its population.
Governor Parson indicated at his Thursday, February 25, press briefing that when more vaccine becomes available and as Missouri enters the next phase (Phase 1B – Tier 3), there will be more opportunities to utilize the Missouri National Guard Mass Vaccination Teams in urban areas in addition to the targeted teams already deployed in St. Louis and Kansas City.
With the Janssen vaccine being shipped to states beginning this week and with vaccination rates increasing in some areas, planning is underway and advancing for transitioning some Mass Vaccination Teams to accommodate more events in Regions A (Kansas City region) and C (St. Louis region), in coordination with regional health care partners.
On February 27, the Janssen Biotech, Inc. (a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine was granted an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). Approximately 50,000 doses are expected to arrive in Missouri this week.
Of the 50,000 Janssen vaccine doses, 5,000 will be distributed to targeted vaccination sites in St. Louis and Kansas City, and 10,000 will go to regional mass vaccination events. The remaining 35,000 will be distributed to community providers that were not allocated Moderna or Pfizer vaccine doses this week. This will allow local providers to determine the most appropriate use for a single-dose regimen in their communities.
Missourians are encouraged to visit MOStopsCOVID.com to view the latest vaccine updates, find out when they are eligible for the vaccine, and locate available vaccinators in their area.
Outlines Distribution for First Shipment of Janssen Vaccine.
You can find a complete list of the high throughput health center COVID-19 vaccine allocations at this link
https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/MOGOV/2021/03/01/file_attachments/1709366/March%201-14,%202021%20HTHC.pdf.