COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Health care professionals are urging people to get their second dose of the coronavirus vaccine at the same place as their first dose to avoid vaccine waste.
“Depending on which vaccine (is opened), it’s only stable for a few hours,” said Brad Myers, executive director of pharmacy and lab services at University of Missouri Health Care. “It’s important that our community members receive the second dose.”
According to the state dashboard, Boone County is the most-vaccinated jurisdiction in the state with a rate of 36.2% of the population receiving at least one dose of the vaccine.
MU Health Care is one of the major vaccine providers in the Boone County area.
“I think our communities put together, MU Health Care, the hospital, the health department, all the pharmacies locally, and the town itself has really gotten out there and pushed the message that vaccines are important,” Myers said.
Myers said MU Health Care’s vaccine no-show rate for second doses is fairly low compared to the national rate. He said in the medical community, it’s been discussed that around a 5% no-show rate is the national average. In some areas of the country, rates have been as high as 15% for no-show second dose appointments.
“We’re averaging 1 to 2% no-show rates for the second dose,” Myers said. “If you look at the data nationally, that’s a great number.”
Myers said he attributes the low no-show rate to MU Health’s communication plan with reminder emails and the information written on the vaccine cards.
Myers said MU Health Care will hold its next vaccination event with thousands of vaccine doses on April 15-17.
PFIZER VACCINE
According to the CDC, the Pfizer vaccine is approved for individuals 16 years old and above and is considered to be 95% effective against COVID-19 for individuals who have not previously had the virus. This vaccine requires two doses, 21 days apart, for full effectiveness.
According to a Wednesday morning news release, Boone Health has appointments for the Pfizer vaccine starting Friday, which is when vaccine eligibility opens up to all Missouri residents.
MODERNA VACCINE
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Moderna vaccine is approved for individuals 18 years old and above and is considered to be 94.1% effective against COVID-19 for individuals who have not previously had the virus. This vaccine requires two doses, 28 days apart, for full effectiveness.
JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE
According to the CDC, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is approved for individuals 18 years old and above and is considered to be 66.3% effective against COVID-19 for individuals who have not previously had the virus. This vaccine only requires one dose and is considered to be fully effective 14 days after the shot.
All of the vaccines are considered to be fully effective two weeks after the final dose is administered, according to the CDC.
The push to vaccinate the public has taken on more urgency with the emergence of coronavirus variants. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported Tuesday its first confirmed case of the South African variant of COVID-19.
According to the state dashboard, Joplin has the second-highest vaccination rate at 33.8% and Cole County is in fifth place with a vaccination rate of 29%.
