COVID-19

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page said Wednesday the county plans to open its first mass vaccination site in Ferguson. Vaccinations at the new clinic could begin as early as next week, if the county health department is able to obtain enough vaccine doses from the state.

The daily flow of workers needed to keep Missouri prisons running has made it nearly impossible to prevent the virus from entering facilities. State health officials hope to reduce this risk by first vaccinating prison staff, but the majority of inmates will be among the last in the state to be offered a 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.

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.

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.

Missouri state Sen. Andrew Koenig of Manchester confirms positive test as colleagues mull impact on Senate work

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.

The Kirkwood Democrat reflects on an eventful couple of weeks in the Missouri House.

Black pastors in the St. Louis region are worried that some members of their congregations will not get the coronavirus vaccine because they are wary of it. Some preachers are using their online services and social media channels to encourage members to take the vaccine.

The Missouri House of Representatives will not meet next week because of an outbreak of COVID-19 in the Capitol Building, Republican leaders announced Thursday evening.