Coronavirus

The state doesn't have nearly enough doses to cover the 3 million people who just became eligible for the coronavirus vaccine.

Missouri has given the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine to about 262,000 people, or 4% of the state's 6 million residents, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s the lowest percentage of all 50 states, and at that pace, Missouri won’t fully vaccinate its population for years.

Local health departments and hospitals are relying heavily on online forms to pre-register people for the COVID-19 vaccine, but that leaves out some elderly who need to sign up by phone.

Dr. Ngozie Ezike says she’s looking forward to listening to people’s concerns about taking the vaccine. The event will be streamed on Facebook Live at 6:30 p.m.

Black doctors in the St. Louis region are trying to debunk false information by talking about the vaccine with their African American patients and to Black organizations. Doctors fear that if not enough Black people take the vaccine, their communities will continue to suffer with more hospitalizations and deaths.

African Americans disproportionately comprise the number of essential workers in frontline industries such as grocery stores, restaurants and warehouses, which has compelled some fathers to stay away from their children to avoid the risk of spreading the virus.

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The region that includes the Metro East was the last in Illinois to see some restrictions lifted.