JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. — Although the state will allow the next tier of individuals to receive COVID-19 vaccinations starting next week, the Jefferson County health department said Friday it will continue to focus on vaccinating those who fall into the previous two tiers.
Citing data from the state's Show Me Vax system, the county said about 12% of Jefferson County residents who are 65 and older are fully vaccinated; and about 16% of adults 18-64 years old with health conditions are fully vaccinated.
“While we support the Governor’s decision to open Tier 3, in Jefferson County we are still working to vaccinate a large number of individuals who are at higher risk of morbidity and mortality,” Jefferson County Health Department Director Kelley Vollmar said in a press release. “Individuals 65+ and adults with one or more comorbidities fall into the current phases and tiers patiently waiting for their turn to be vaccinated. It is vital that we continue to prioritize those most at risk of severe complications to ensure the best health outcomes for all.”
The clinics run by the county will give priority to individuals who fall into Phase 1A and Phase 1B, Tier 1 and Tier 2, which include health care workers, first responders, those who live in nursing homes, those over 65 years old and adults with certain health conditions.
"Right now we have about 30,000 people who are on our list, who are still eligible for the vaccine," Vollmar told 5 On Your Side.
Vollmar said that's 30,000 people waiting for a shot, who have been eligible for potentially months. She explained why those tiers need to be prioritized ahead of Tier 3 hopefuls.
"Looking at our numbers, our residents who are 60 and older account for maybe 9% of our COVID cases but 93% of our deaths," she said.
With some counties following suit and others sticking with Governor Parson's timeline, Vollmar said she expects it to take a few weeks to get caught up.
"The vaccine allocations that they're starting to send out are looking much more encouraging, to the point to where we might be able to get through that tier in a month or so," she said.
Residents are encouraged to seek vaccinations at pharmacies and other providers. Phase 1B-Tier 3 includes more than 500,000 Missourians, including K-12 teachers and staff, grocery store workers and agricultural workers.
For teachers not wanting to wait, Todd Fuller with the Missouri State Teacher's Association said there is an alternative.
"At this point, teachers need to just bypass the state process and start paying attention to the federal process for vaccination," he explained.
Teachers and education personnel from any state are eligible to go locations within the federal program to be vaccinated. Locations currently scheduling COVID-19 vaccine appointments include Walmart, CVS and Walgreens.
The Jefferson County health department said those who are interested in receiving the vaccine should register on its waiting list, which is on the department's website. Anyone without internet access can call the COVID-19 Vaccine Registration Line at 636-789-8941.