FERGUSON — St. Louis County on Tuesday prepared to open its first COVID-19 mass vaccination site on the Florissant Valley campus of St. Louis Community College.
Since Friday, fewer than 100 vaccinations have been administered at the site each day to eligible county employees, in preparation to ramp up to larger numbers this week. The first appointments for members of the public are scheduled for Wednesday.
The health department estimates that, given enough supply, between 500 and 1,000 people could be vaccinated per day at the Florissant Valley campus. But vaccine shipments have varied. The county has not received direct shipments from the state for the past two weeks, but received 3,900 doses of the Pfizer vaccine on Tuesday through a redistribution from a hospital.
County Executive Sam Page said Tuesday the number of doses will be limited for the foreseeable future.
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St. Louis County Executive Sam Page talks about the county’s first mass vaccination site at the St. Louis Community College Florissant Campus on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021. Mike Shannon, a transportation worker with the county, received one of the first doses of the vaccine at the facility. Video by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com
“Availability of vaccine is going to be an issue for several months,” Page said.
The county public health department plans to provide 5,000 vaccine appointments a week, acting county health co-director Spring Schmidt said Tuesday in a presentation to the County Council.
That’s about a quarter of an estimated 21,000 vaccinations needed in St. Louis County each week to meet a federal benchmark to provide 100 million vaccinations in 100 days, Schmidt said. The remainder would be provided by hospitals, pharmacies and private clinics, she said.
Meanwhile, about 450,000 people who live in the county meet current eligibility requirements to get a vaccine, including about 12,000 health care workers and 5,000 first responders. More than 260,000 people have preregistered for appointments.
“Until the vaccine supply really comes in and is given to us, it will be difficult for us to meet some of these targets,” Schmidt said.
County Councilwoman Lisa Clancy, D-5th District, said she would call for state officials to testify why St. Louis County, the state’s most populous county, wasn’t receiving more vaccine doses.
“We need some answers,” Clancy said. “It feels like we’re getting the short end of the stick here.”
The county is ramping up infrastructure to distribute vaccine as it becomes available, designating additional sites across the county for public vaccinations, including fire stations in Affton, Eureka and Mehlville that will begin administering vaccine on Thursday, Schmidt said.
The county is also planning mass public vaccination sites at the Meramec campus of St. Louis Community College in Kirkwood and at the public health department’s four health centers, as well as drive-thru and mobile vaccination sites.
Officials emphasized that vaccinations will be available only by appointment. Area residents can preregister through St. Louis County’s online portal, or by emailing the health department. Applicants will be invited to make an appointment once supply is available. Applicants do not need to be county residents.
The health department is encouraging residents to use the online or email options if possible, but those who do not have internet access can call the county hotline at 314-615-2660 on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to preregister.
New state sites
State officials on Tuesday also announced locations for the second round of mass vaccination events, which will take place across the state later this week in coordination with the Missouri National Guard. One event is scheduled for Thursday at the civic center in Farmington.
Appointments for Thursday’s event are already filled, according to the state vaccine website. Residents who want to be notified about future vaccination opportunities in St. Francois County can preregister through the county health center’s online portal. Applicants will be contacted by the health department when vaccinations are available.
Other events are scheduled in Clinton, Hannibal, Springfield, Caruthersville, Jefferson City, Ava, Chillicothe, Bethany and Rolla. Registration information is available on the state vaccine website.
City adjusts
Asked about reports that the city of St. Louis had vaccinated ineligible individuals last weekend, Dr. Fredrick Echols told a special committee of the Board of Aldermen that a key qualifying condition had changed after the city began accepting registrations.
Echols said the city’s COVID-19 vaccine registration website had originally listed a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 as a qualifying condition to get the vaccine, but that the threshold set by the state was subsequently changed.
More than 13,000 people registered on the city’s site in less than 36 hours, said Jacob Long, a spokesman for Mayor Lyda Krewson. The next day, the state revised its guidelines to say only those with BMI over 40 qualified for vaccine, he said.
Long said the city was not going tell those who registered with a BMI over 30 as their only qualifying factor that they were no longer eligible. “We are not going to go back and take people off the list who signed up in good faith” based on the state criteria at the time, he said.
Some who received invitations to Saturday’s event told staff upon arrival that they didn’t meet any of the state’s current requirements, and those individuals were turned away, Echols told aldermen. Others, however, may not have understood the updated state requirements.
“We ask people to be honest to ensure that those at highest risk are able to receive the vaccine,” Echols said.
340 Missouri deaths
Missouri reported 890 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, up from 778 the day before. The seven-day average of new cases fell to 1,285, down from 2,630 on Jan. 1, according to a Post-Dispatch analysis.
The state also reported 340 more deaths due to the virus, a record number, according to Post-Dispatch data. Of those, 11 occurred in November, 190 in December, and 138 in January.
Nearly 410,000 people statewide have received a first dose of vaccine as of Tuesday, or 6.7% of the population, up from 397,430 the day before. And of those, more than 150,000 have received a second dose.
Illinois reported 2,304 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, down from 2,312 the day before. The seven-day average of new cases fell to 3,212, down from 5,677 on Jan. 1, according to a Post-Dispatch analysis.
The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 47 more deaths due to the virus.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force reported 51 new COVID-19 patients admitted to hospitals in the area, down from 59 the day before. The task force reported a total of 474 confirmed virus patients across area BJC HealthCare, Mercy, SSM Health and St. Luke’s Hospital facilities — down from a peak of 962 on Dec. 1. Task force data lags two days.
Michele Munz of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
Photos from a Lincoln County mass vaccination clinic
Photos: Lincoln County holds mass vaccination clinic
Lincoln County holds mass vaccination clinic

Taylor Fleri gives Roy Nelson, back, a COVID-19 vaccine while his wife Bessie Nelson watches from the front seat during a mass vaccination event at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds in Troy on Friday, Jan. 29, 2021. "Better than having that disease, that's for sure," says Bessie on getting her shot. The event is one of nine mass vaccination clinics being held in Missouri on Friday. There were 2000 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination being distributed to healthcare workers, first responders and citizens age 65 and older. Photo by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com
Lincoln County holds mass vaccination clinic

Cars line up in rows to receive the COVID-19 vaccine during a mass vaccination event at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds in Troy, Mo., on Friday, Jan. 29, 2021. Workers moved from row to row administering the vaccine to the occupants of each car. After receiving their dose the line would wait 15 minutes under supervision to make sure no severe side-effects set in before being released. The event was one of nine mass vaccination clinics being held in Missouri on Friday. There were 2000 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination being distributed to healthcare workers, first responders and citizens age 65 and older. (Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com)
Lincoln County holds mass vaccination clinic

Bernice Bundren, RN, fills a syringe with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine during a mass vaccination event at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds in Troy on Friday, Jan. 29, 2021. The event is one of nine mass vaccination clinics being held in Missouri on Friday. There were 2000 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination being distributed to healthcare workers, first responders and citizens age 65 and older. Photo by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com
Lincoln County holds mass vaccination clinic

Sandra Goins receives a COVID-19 vaccine while her dog Cricket watches in the passenger seat during a mass vaccination event at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds in Troy on Friday, Jan. 29, 2021. The event is one of nine mass vaccination clinics being held in Missouri on Friday. There were 2000 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination being distributed to healthcare workers, first responders and citizens age 65 and older. Photo by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com
Lincoln County holds mass vaccination clinic

Chelsea Wysocki, right, prepares to vaccinate Melissa Schlote during a mass vaccination event at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds in Troy on Friday, Jan. 29, 2021. The event is one of nine mass vaccination clinics being held in Missouri on Friday. There were 2000 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination being distributed to healthcare workers, first responders and citizens age 65 and older. Photo by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com
Lincoln County holds mass vaccination clinic

"Better than having that disease, that's for sure," says Bessie Nelson as she receives a bandaid after getting a COVID-19 vaccine during a mass vaccination event at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds in Troy on Friday, Jan. 29, 2021. The event is one of nine mass vaccination clinics being held in Missouri on Friday. There were 2000 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination being distributed to healthcare workers, first responders and citizens age 65 and older. Photo by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com
Lincoln County holds mass vaccination clinic

A security worker helps direct a traffic as cars line up during a mass vaccination event at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds in Troy, Mo., on Friday, Jan. 29, 2021. The event is one of nine mass vaccination clinics being held in Missouri on Friday. There were 2000 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination being distributed to healthcare workers, first responders and citizens age 65 and older. (Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com)
Lincoln County holds mass vaccination clinic

St. Louis University medical student Reeder Wells, center, gives Misty Hunt a COVID-19 vaccine during a mass vaccination event at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds in Troy, Mo., on Friday, Jan. 29, 2021. Hunt is battling Stage 4 cancer and says it will giver her more peace of mind having the vaccine after watching healthier people than herself die of from the virus. (Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com)
Lincoln County holds mass vaccination clinic

A worker fills a syringe with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine during a mass vaccination event at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds in Troy on Friday, Jan. 29, 2021. The event is one of nine mass vaccination clinics being held in Missouri on Friday. There were 2000 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination being distributed to healthcare workers, first responders and citizens age 65 and older. Photo by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com
Lincoln County holds mass vaccination clinic

Saint Louis University medical student Reeder Wells, left, gives Steve Hunt, center, a COVID-19 vaccine while his wife Misty Hunt watches during a mass vaccination event at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds in Troy on Friday, Jan. 29, 2021. Misty Hunt is battling stage 4 cancer and says it will giver her more peace of mind having the vaccine after watching healthier people than herself die of from the virus. Photo by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com
Lincoln County holds mass vaccination clinic

Vials of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination sit ready to be used during a mass vaccination event at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds in Troy, Mo., on Friday, Jan. 29, 2021.
Lincoln County holds mass vaccination clinic

Cars line up in rows to receive the COVID-19 vaccine during a mass vaccination event at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds in Troy on Friday, Jan. 29, 2021. Workers moved from row to row administering the vaccine to the occupants of each car. After receiving their dose the line would wait 15 minutes under supervision to make sure no severe side-effects set in before being released. The event is one of nine mass vaccination clinics being held in Missouri on Friday. There were 2000 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination being distributed to healthcare workers, first responders and citizens age 65 and older. Photo by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com
Lincoln County holds mass vaccination clinic

A worker administers a COVID-19 vaccine during a mass vaccination event at theLincoln County Fairgrounds in Troy on Friday, Jan. 29, 2021. The event is one of nine mass vaccination clinics being held in Missouri on Friday. There were 2000 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination being distributed to healthcare workers, first responders and citizens age 65 and older. Photo by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com
Lincoln County holds mass vaccination clinic

St. Louis University medical student Reeder Wells talks with Misty Hunt before giving her a COVID-19 vaccine during a mass vaccination event at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds in Troy, Mo., on Friday, Jan. 29, 2021. Hunt is battling Stage 4 cancer and says it will giver her more peace of mind having the vaccine after watching healthier people than herself die of from the virus. (Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com)
Lincoln County holds mass vaccination clinic

Bernice Bundren, RN, fills a syringe with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine during a mass vaccination event at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds in Troy, Mo., on Friday, Jan. 29, 2021. The event is one of nine mass vaccination clinics being held in Missouri on Friday. There were 2000 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination being distributed to healthcare workers, first responders and citizens age 65 and older. (Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com)
Lincoln County holds mass vaccination clinic

A worker grabs a syringe to administer a COVID-19 vaccine during a mass vaccination event at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds in Troy on Friday, Jan. 29, 2021. The event is one of nine mass vaccination clinics being held in Missouri on Friday. There were 2000 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination being distributed to healthcare workers, first responders and citizens age 65 and older. Photo by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com
Lincoln County holds mass vaccination clinic

A worker fills a syringe with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine during a mass vaccination event at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds in Troy, Mo., on Friday, Jan. 29, 2021. (Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com)
COVID-19 in Missouri and Illinois: By the numbers

NOTE: On Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) changed how it reports COVID-19 cases and deaths. The department began counting reinfections as new cases, and added epidemiologically linked cases to its counts.
On April 17, 2021, DHSS adjusted a database error that was causing individuals with both a positive PCR and antigen result to be counted as both a probable and confirmed case. This correction removed 11,454 cases that were counted twice in previous probable antigen cases, according the notation. That date's data has been removed from this display.
Beginning March 8, 2021, DHSS began posting county-level data showing "probable" COVID-19 cases detected by antigen testing. Using the historical data from the DHSS dashboard, we reconfigured this graph to include that number in the total.
Missouri updated its data dashboard on Sept. 28. 2020, to delete duplicate cases. This resulted in a decrease of total cases which caused the daily count to reflect a negative number. That date's data has been removed from this display.
NOTE: On Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) changed how it reports COVID-19 cases and deaths. The department began counting reinfections as new cases, and added epidemiologically linked cases to its counts.
On April 17, 2021, DHSS adjusted a database error that was causing individuals with both a positive PCR and antigen result to be counted as both a probable and confirmed case. This correction removed 11,454 cases that were counted twice in previous probable antigen cases, according the notation.
Beginning March 8, 2021, DHSS began posting county-level data showing "probable" COVID-19 cases detected by antigen testing. Using the historical data from the DHSS dashboard, we reconfigured this graph to include that number in the total.
Missouri updated its data dashboard on Sept. 28. 2020, to delete duplicate cases. This resulted in a decrease of total cases which caused the daily count to reflect a negative number.
NOTE: On Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) changed how it reports COVID-19 cases and deaths. The department began counting reinfections as new cases, and added epidemiologically linked cases to its counts.
NOTE: On Oct. 11, Missouri announced that a database error had resulted in an “incorrect inflation” of cases in its Oct. 10 report
Note from St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force: The data includes patients at BJC HealthCare, SSM Health and St. Luke's Hospital. As of Jan. 17, 2022, the data includes patients at the VA St. Louis Healthcare System.
Note from Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services: Note: Due to an abrupt change in data measures and the reporting platform issued by the White House on Monday, July 13, and effective Wednesday, July 15, Missouri Hospital Association (MHA) and the State of Missouri were unable to access hospitalization data during the transition. .
NOTE: On Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) began counting probable death along with confirmed deaths.
