JEFFERSON CITY, Mo (KMOX) - Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced the state is tracking ahead of schedule for COVID-19 vaccinations across the state and is planning to expand to allow more people to sign up to receive doses.
Parson says Missouri will activate Phase 2 of the state's COVID-19 Vaccination Plan on March 29 and Phase 3 on April 9. Phase 2 includes people who are essential to equitable economic recovery, disproportionately affected populations with an emphasis on racial and ethnic minorities and the homeless.
Phase 3 will make vaccinations open to all Missouri adults – which will make an estimated 1.1 million Missourians newly eligible.
Parson says the federal government has promised the state that COVID-19 vaccine allotments will significantly increase by the first week of April. He says the newly announced timeline for activating Phases 2 and 3 will that there is a consistent number of people who are eligible and interested in receiving a vaccine, allowing vaccinators across the state to continue vaccinating Missourians without delays due to those who are eligible but not seeking a vaccine.
“Missouri’s position is continuously improving on the COVID-19 front,” Governor Parson said. “With over 1.2 million Missourians having initiated vaccination, large increases in vaccine supply, and the activation of Phases 2 and 3, we are confident that we are winning the battle against COVID-19.”
To date, one in four Missourians have initiated vaccination, and approximately 50 percent of Missouri's 65 and older population have initiated vaccination.
This is a breaking news story that will be updated.
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