COVID-19 vaccine options increase for eligible residents

     Governor Parson has announced the state will move into Phase 1-B Tier 3 of Missouri’s priority phases as of March 15th. Phase I-B Tier 3 includes the following groups:
     Education: Teachers, faculty, and staff in public, private, and nonprofit pre K – 12.
     Childcare: Faculty and staff in a DHSS or DSS -licensed facility providing basic care to children.
     Communications Sector: Employees at public, private, or nonprofit organizations that provide communications services.
     Dams Sector: Employees at public, private, or nonprofit organizations that provide services in the dams sector related to critical water retention and control services.
     Energy Sector: Employees at public, private, or nonprofit organizations that provide energy services, regardless of the energy source.
     Food/Agriculture Sector – initial: Employees of certain food production and processing facilities, and related operations, prioritizing mass food production, distribution, transportation, wholesale and retail sales, including grocery and convenience stores where groceries are sold; includes veterinary services.
     Government: Elected officials in any branch of government at the state, county, and/or municipal levels required for the continuity of government; members of the judiciary at the federal, state, and/or local levels required for the continuity of government; employees designated by the federal government that fall within the state’s vaccine allocation responsibilities; other designated government personnel required for the continuity of government.
     Information Technology
Sector: Employees at public, private, or nonprofit organizations that provide IT services.
     Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste Sector: Employees at public, private, or nonprofit organizations that work in this sector.
     Transportation Systems
Sector: Employees in the transportation systems sector including aviation, highway and motor carriers, maritime transportation systems, mass transit and passenger rail, pipeline systems, freight rail, and postal shipping.
     Water and Wastewater Systems Sector: Employees at public, private, and/or nonprofit organizations that provide drinking or wastewater services.
     Grain Valley Schools will survey all employees this week to collect the names of those who intend to get vaccinated this month, according to Dr. Brad Welle, Deputy Superintendent, Student and Community Services.
     “We will use this list to schedule vaccination sessions with at least two regional providers,” Welle said.
     Those in each of the eligible priority phases may seek out the vaccine through a number of providers, including:
    Missouri COVID-19 Vaccine Navigator:
Register online at www.mostopscovid.com or call 877-435-8411.
     Register with Jackson County Health Department at www.jacohd.org/covid-vaccines.
     Truman Medical Centers: You can register online or call (816)404-CARE to sign up for TMC’s vaccine waiting list. You must be a Missouri resident and meet eligibility.
     Selected retail pharmacies such as Walmart, Sam’s Club, and Health Mart are now providing vaccines to eligible persons through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program for COVID-19. This program allows individuals to get vaccinated at any location regardless of residency.
     To assist seniors in the metro area who need assistance navigating the system, Mid-America Regional Council Area Agency on Aging (AAA) may be contacted by phone at 1-800-593-7948. 
     Your local AAA can help you:
     Register for a vaccine, if you have not 
     yet registered;
     Coordinate round-trip transportation;      
     Be reminded when it’s time for your
     second dose.