By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
MAYSVILLE - The Tri-County Health Department was not chosen to receive an additional supply of COVID-19 vaccines this week, further delaying and confusing the distribution of the vaccine in parts of northwest Missouri.
Tri-County Health already has 110 doses of the Moderna vaccine ready to go for people in Phase 1a this week (medical personnel, long-term care residents) and soon, first responders within Worth, Gentry and DeKalb counties.
"We've been in close contact with Mosaic Life Care and (President) John Doolitte," Tri-County health administrator Teresa McDonald said. "They're trying to help us in getting our first responders vaccinated."
The state of Missouri activated vaccinations for people in Phase 1b this week. That includes those over age 65 and anyone considered to be at high-risk.
Those in Phase 1b who live in the Tri-County area aren't sure how long they'll have to wait to get their COVID vaccine.
"I don't have any definite answers on why our order was denied this week," Tri-County health administrator Teresa McDonald said. "I'm assuming it was a supply issue."
Tri-County placed an order of 240 vaccines for people in Phase 1b. McDonald has reached out to State Rep. J Eggleston, notifying him of the situation. She's yet to hear a response.
While Tri-County is waiting on Eggleston's response, calls from residents within the Tri-County area have been frequent.
The health department now has three phone lines set up for people who want to get in line for vaccination clinics.
"We can't hardly get anything else done," McDonald admitted. "It makes it a little difficult to schedule clinics when we have all of these calls coming in. That's why we've elected to have the cellphone that we purchased to have the voicemail set up to go ahead and take the messages and take a little break off of our phones."
Tri-County Health started a COVID-19 vaccine waiting list for this purpose last week. That list now has 1,036 people on it.
"We're just going to continue to put people on the list as they call in," McDonald said. "That way, we at least know what we need and where we need it at."
Those who want to get on the list are asked to call 660-822-1247 and follow the instructions laid out in the voicemail message.
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