Governor Parson activates first tier of Phase 1B of state's COVID-19 vaccination plan

The first tier of Phase 1B includes first responders, emergency services, and public health infrastructure. The second tier of 1B will be activated Monday and includes anyone ages 65 or older.

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On Thursday, Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced that the state is rolling out the first tier of Phase 1B of its COVID-19 vaccination plan. That tier includes first responders, emergency services, and public health infrastructure.

Phase 1A of the vaccination plan focused mainly on health care workers and those who work in long-term care facilities. According to covidvaccine.mo.gov, the first tier of Phase 1B includes: 

  • Non-Patient Facing Public Health Infrastructure: Administrators and staff at federal, state, or local public health agencies and other healthcare workers who carry out functions necessary to the operation of the state’s healthcare infrastructure that were not included in 1A.
  • First Responders: All federal, state, and/or local first responders beyond EMS/EMTs in 1A, including law enforcement, fire services, corrections, and certain social service agencies.
  • Emergency Management and Public Works: Federal, state, or local government employees in emergency management and public works agencies, identified nonprofit organizations designated as partner voluntary agencies.
  • Emergency Services Sector: Employees defined in the emergency services sector not otherwise listed, including law enforcement, fire and rescue services, emergency medical services, emergency management, and public works

The governor also announced that the state would be receiving more vaccines from the federal government, and it plans to roll out the second tier of 1B on Monday. That will allow vaccines to be given to high-risk individuals, including: 

  • Anyone aged 65 and older
  • Any adults with cancer, Chronic Kidney Disease, COPD, Heart Conditions, weakened immune system due to organ transplant, severe obesity (BMI >40), pregnancy, Sickle Cell Disease, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, or individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities such as Down Syndrome.

Those in the first tier should work through their employers to obtain a vaccine. Those in the second tier should work through their primary care physician, or visit MOstopsCovid.com, where, beginning Friday, you can find a list of vaccinators. 

A rollout date for the third tier of 1B, which includes educators, has not been announced yet. 

In Missouri, there have been 462,000 cases of COVID-19 reported to date. More than 6,500 Missourians have died from the novel coronavirus. 

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