Coronavirus

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.

A new coronavirus variant first identified in the United Kingdom last year has been found in 20 states, including Illinois. Because it’s only a matter of time until it comes to Missouri, people in the region must continue to be vigilant, said Dr. Fred Echols, St. Louis Department of Health acting director.

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page said the county will place its first mass vaccination site in north St. Louis County. He plans to release more details this week. Page also announced that Damon Broadus, a former American Heart Association official, will lead an outreach effort as director of health promotion.

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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Federal officials each week tell states how many vaccine doses they will receive. After that, state officials direct the shipments to hospitals, health departments and other vaccination sites. But that number can vary by thousands of doses each week, and vaccinators get little notice of how many doses to expect. That makes it difficult to make appointments for the millions of people now eligible to receive the vaccine in Missouri.

County health centers and St. Louis-area hospital systems have launched online forms where people can pre-register to receive coronavirus vaccinations.

The St. Charles County Department of Public Health kicked off a vaccination effort Tuesday by giving doses of the coronavirus vaccine to health care workers and emergency personnel. Officials will use the Family Arena over the next seven weeks to vaccinate those who work or live in St. Charles County.

County health departments in the St. Louis area plan to use these pre-registration sites as a key tool for the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

The computer, chair or workplace you set up to work at home during the pandemic is probably not tax deductible.