Personal Physicians Newsletter Archive - COVID Vaccine Distribution Update

As most of you are aware, St. Louis has begun Phase 1 of administering the COVID-19 vaccine to local healthcare workers. We know many of you are looking forward to when you will also be able to receive this vaccine! Our application to distribute the vaccine has been submitted, and we meet all of the requirements. We are currently awaiting word from the Missouri Department of Health on when our office will be able to receive and begin distribution of the vaccine. We will keep you posted!

Below is Missouri's rough outline of when and to whom the vaccine will be distributed within each tiered phase. This of course is subject to change pending vaccine availability and any distribution delays or government regulations.

Phase 1 (December 2020 – February 2021): Approved vaccines start to go to 6 priority groups (listed in order of priority):
1. Clinical and non-clinical health care workers doing direct and COVID-facing care
2. Long term care facilities, residential care and assisted living facilities
3. Police, fire and emergency medical services
4. Congregate care settings (including corrections and shelters)
5. Home-based health care workers
6. Health care workers doing non-COVID-facing care
Phase 2 (February – March 2021): Vaccine expected to be available for those at increased risk (listed in order of priority):
1. Individuals with 2 or more co-morbid conditions considered high risk for COVID-19 complications ( see list of co-morbid conditions below)
2. Early education and K-12 teachers and staff, transit, grocery, utility, food and agriculture, sanitation, public works and public health workers
3. Adults 65+
4. Individuals with one co-morbid condition
Phase 3 (Starting in April 2021): Vaccine is expected to be available to the general public.

Once we receive approval from the Missouri Department of Health, we will be in touch with our plan on how we will distribute the vaccine. At this time, we are not taking appointments nor making a wait list. All of our patients will have an opportunity to receive the vaccine per the above phased guidelines. For general COVID-19 vaccine questions, please visit: covidvaccine.mo.gov.

*The following are co-morbid conditions for COVID-19 as defined by the CDC:

Cancer
Chronic kidney disease
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
Down Syndrome
Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
Body mass index [BMI] of 30 or higher
Pregnancy
Sickle cell disease
Smoking
Type 2 diabetes mellitus

*It is unclear at this time if these following conditions will be considered co-morbid conditions as well. We will provide more details on this once we receive the vaccine.

Asthma (moderate-to-severe)
Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain)
Cystic fibrosis
Hypertension or high blood pressure
Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune-weakening medicines
Neurologic conditions, such as dementia
Liver disease
Overweight (BMI > 25 but < 30)
Pulmonary fibrosis (having damaged or scarred lung tissues)
Thalassemia (a type of blood disorder)
Type 1 diabetes mellitus

Here's to a happier and healthier 2021!