Month: July 2021

Governor Parson has introduced Donald Kauerauf as the next director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

Kauerauf replaces Dr. Randall Williams, who resigned from the position in April.

Kauerauf served as the assistant director of the Illinois Department of Public Health from 2016 until his retirement in 2018.

More recently, he was selected to chair the Illinois Terrorism Task Force and has been in that capacity through the COVID-19 crisis.

Kauerauf has more than 30 years of experience in state government and has served in various senior leadership positions in public health and emergency management.

Kauerauf says it’s an honor to be appointed by the Governor as the new DHSS director. “I’m looking forward to working with public health agencies, healthcare providers, and communities to build upon the great work that has been initiated in Missouri to address the COVID-19 situation,” Kauerauf said. “At the same time, I’ll work to make available critical preventative programs and services to increase the health and safety of Missourians.”

Kauerauf will take over as DHSS director effective September 1, 2021.

Governor Parson has unveiled a statewide COVID-19 vaccination incentive program known as “MO VIP.”

Parson says between now and October, 900 Missourians who have or will get vaccinated will win cash or education savings account prizes in the amount of $10,000.

Here’s the full release from Governor Parson’s office:

(JEFFERSON CITY, MO) –Today, during a press conference at the State Capitol, Governor Mike Parson announced the launch of a statewide COVID-19 vaccination incentive program, MO VIP, to encourage vaccination among all Missourians age 12 and up. Over the next three months, 900 Missourians who have or will choose to be vaccinated will win cash or education savings account prizes in the amount of $10,000.  

“We understand that the some Missourians are hesitant towards getting the vaccine, but we must all take personal responsibility and do right by our own health and that of our friends and family by getting vaccinated,” Governor Parson said. “This new program will compliment our existing efforts to educate Missourians about the importance of getting the vaccine. Our current COVID-19 situation is serious. This Delta variant transmits faster than what we have previously seen and is more likely to impact children and the unvaccinated, so now is the perfect opportunity to get vaccinated and earn your shot at $10,000.”

After months of leading the nation with one of the lowest COVID-19 case rates, the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) entered Missouri and, due to its high level of transmissibility, quickly became the dominant strain in the state and nation. The most effective way to be protected from COVID-19 in any form is through vaccination. 

The MO VIP incentivizes vaccination for those who have not yet been vaccinated as well as provides an opportunity for rewards for the 2.8 million Missourians who have already made the decision to be protected through vaccination.

Missourians who have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine are now able to enter to win one of the 900 prizes. The first drawing will be on August 13; drawings will occur every two weeks with the final drawing scheduled for October 8. Once Missouri residents receive a dose, they become eligible to enter the sweepstakes at MOStopsCovid.com/win. Once entered, their entry will be carried over through all the drawings. There is no need to enter more than once. The entry list will be reviewed, and duplicate entries will be removed prior to each drawing. A winner must meet all of the following eligibility requirements:

• Must be a living citizen of the United States and a permanent resident of the State of Missouri.
• Must be age 12 or older.
• Must have received at least the first COVID-19 vaccination if receiving the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose if receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, prior to the drawing date (records will be verified).

Those ineligible include the Governor and First Lady, individuals currently incarcerated on the basis of a felony conviction, statewide elected officials, members of the U.S. Congress and Missouri General Assembly, appointees of Governor Mike Parson, employees of the Office of Governor Mike Parson, the Office of the Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the Missouri Lottery, and the Office of Administration (and members of ineligible individuals’ households). 

Entries will be divided into three categories:

• Red:    Missourians age 18 and up receiving at least one dose of vaccine after July 21. 
• White: Missourians age 18 and up receiving at least one dose of vaccine before July 21. 
• Blue:   Missourians ages 12 to 17 receiving at least one dose of vaccine at any time.

Eighty winners will be randomly selected during each drawing from the Red and White categories (10 from each congressional district). These individuals will each receive a cash prize of $10,000. During each drawing, 20 adolescents from the Blue category will be randomly selected to receive a $10,000 education savings account through the Missouri State Treasurer’s MOST 529 program. This means every two weeks of the program, 180 Missourians will be winners for a total of 900 individuals. These preliminary winners will all have their vaccination status verified. 

To allow time for records and eligibility to be verified, confirmed winners will be announced two weeks following each drawing. Entries will be accepted online until 11:59 p.m. two days prior to each drawing. Official rules, frequently asked questions, and a program timeline are available at MOStopsCovid.com/win. 

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is partnering with Missouri Lottery to conduct a fair and secure program with a randomized selection process. DHSS is using federally funded Coronavirus Relief Funds to fund this campaign. This funding was approved under previous and current federal administrations for broad COVID-19 response purposes to include efforts to boost vaccine uptake. 

Those without the ability to enter the sweepstakes online can get assistance by calling the COVID-19 hotline Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. at 877-435-8411. 

Additionally, local public health agencies that administer COVID-19 vaccines will now be eligible to provide a financial incentive of up to $25 for each vaccine recipient, up to a total of $11 million. This program would provide incentives for administrators to pass along to recipients for 440,000 vaccines administered across Missouri and would sunset on December 31, 2021. Local public health agencies are able to partner with enrolled COVID-19 vaccinators within the State of Missouri to be part of this program. Vaccinators should apply by August 15 and can learn more about this opportunity at MOStopsCovid.com/vaccinators. This portion of incentives is being funded by CDC Immunizations grant funding. 

Get the facts about COVID-19 vaccines and find a vaccine near you at MOStopsCovid.com. 

A deadly shooting outside a bar in Lake Ozark last week shows the importance of a local blood provider who can respond quickly to any emergency.

Community Blood Center of the Ozarks says early on Thursday evening, it received an urgent request from Lake Regional Hospital for additional red cells, platelets, and plasma to treat several wounded shooting victims.

CBCO, which is the sole blood provider to 44 healthcare providers in the Ozarks, enlisted the help of the Missouri State Highway Patrol to get the additional blood to Lake Regional quickly.

“It’s called a red-light relay, with troopers running in full emergency mode,” CBCO Senior Director of Distribution Shannon Long said. “They pass the blood from patrol vehicle to vehicle until it reaches the destination. It is not a tactic that is used often, but it is the quickest way to meet emergency blood needs.”

CBCO Executive Director Anthony Roberts says donors did their part in helping make sure the right types of blood were on the shelves. “Our distribution department responded immediately when the request came in, and the Highway Patrol saw to it that the blood arrived quickly,” Roberts said. “I commend and thank everyone for their efforts in helping to meet the challenge.”

The blood center is urging eligible donors to help build blood reserves for the next emergency call.

Governor Parson holds a press conference Wednesday to announce a statewide COVID-19 vaccine incentive program.

You can watch the event live here beginning at 3:00 p.m.

Last week, the CDC did not approve an incentive plan proposed by Parson. The CDC wanted to limit funding incentives to $25 per vaccinated person, but the governor did not feel this would be enough to “significantly increase vaccine uptake in Missouri.”

The governor will also introduce the new director of the Department of Health and Senior Services.

Parson appointed Robert Knodell as acting director following the resignation of Dr. Randall Williams in April.

Greene County has reached the highest number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

As of Monday, the Springfield-Greene County Health Department says there are 251 people hospitalized with the virus. 103 of those people are in critical care.

The previous record was December 1st, 2020, when 237 people were being treated for COVID-19 in local hospitals. 57 people were in critical care at that time.

Local health leaders have joined with other public health officials to expand the “Find A Vaccine” map to cover all of southwest Missouri.

The map allows people to input their home or work address to locate the nearest vaccination site.

Users may also filter by vaccine type and clinic setting and whether it’s a community event, healthcare clinic or pharmacy.

You can access the map here.