JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — They’re not in the approved COVID-19 vaccine groups, but several Missouri lawmakers got their first shot Wednesday after they were incorrectly told doses were available for them near the state Capitol.
On Thursday, Missouri Governor Mike Parson went as far as to say they used their positions to get a vaccine.
A rumor, messages and even an email from the House Minority Leader spread around the Missouri Capitol as lawmakers were in session Wednesday that vaccines were available for all state employees at the nearby Capitol Plaza Hotel. All you needed was your state ID, the messages said, according to The Missouri Times – a political news publisher based in Jefferson City.
However, state lawmakers as a category are not included in the latest phase of Missouri’s vaccine distribution plan. The vaccines given out near the Capitol Wednesday were not meant for them, the Missouri Times reported. Gov. Parson echoed that fact during a scheduled briefing Thursday.
Phase 1B – Tier 1 does include government employees “in emergency management and public works agencies.” An email sent to employees in the Capitol later Wednesday clarified to say the shots were meant to go to Department of Public Safety and Department of Transportation employees “who were within eligible tiers for the vaccine,” the Missouri Times said.
Elected lawmakers aren’t eligible until Phase 1B – Tier 3, which doesn’t have a start date yet.
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“This is even more of an example of the failure of the Parson administration to give clear guidance and answer questions,” said House Minority Leader Crystal Quade.
Quade went to the hotel and said she confirmed with those working that all state employees were eligible — so she sent an email to representatives and staffers about the available doses. Then, she rolled up her sleeve and got her first shot. She talked with The Missouri Times about the miscommunication.
“When state employees don’t know what’s going on, how can we expect members of the general public to know?” Quade asked.
Gov. Parson pushed back on that statement Thursday.
"Everybody in this building knows what the guidelines are to get a vaccine," he stressed. "For the minority leader to come out and say there was confusion about it to try to cover up why they all ran over and got a vaccine is totally inappropriate."
The governor said legislators "should not be able to jump to the front of the line" ahead of people who qualify for the shot, and said Missourians "deserved better than that from elected officials."
He went on to accuse the lawmakers who got their first dose of using their title to their advantage.
"But really what happened is people went over and tried to use their positions to jump the line, is the simple truth of what happened," Gov. Parson said.
Rep. Rasheen Aldridge, who represents a large part of the City of St. Louis, shared photos on Twitter of him getting the shot. He said he jumped at the opportunity to get vaccinated.
“Today my legislative assistant and I received the COVID19 vaccine. For the last four weeks, since I have returned to the capital, I have feared for my family's safety, my friend's safety, and my safety. Since my Republican colleagues won’t take the proper actions to keep everyone safe, I decided to get the shot. With Missouri being ranked the last state to get vaccinations out, we must do better so no Missourians have the same fear I have every day when I come to work,” Aldridge tweeted.
Just a few hours earlier, he shared his concerns about working in the Capitol.
“The fear of being in the capital is so real for me. I wish there was better precaution in this building,” he said.
It’s not clear how many lawmakers received the vaccine Wednesday.
5 On Your Side is working to contact more local lawmakers about the vaccine distribution. This story will be updated as more information is confirmed.