COVID-19 Update | February 9, 2021

Staff Contact: Mat Reidhead or Jackie Gatz

Media coverage surrounding the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in Missouri recently has focused on differences in vaccine coverage between rural and urban areas of the state. A key component that has been overlooked by reporters is that the distribution of extremely scarce supplies of vaccines is not a function of the total population, but rather a function of where prioritized high-risk individuals live, and the overall disease burden from COVID-19. Policymakers in Missouri have prioritized individuals with the highest associated risk of poor COVID-19-related outcomes as the first recipients of the vaccines. Communities with the highest concentration of these individuals also have had the most disproportionate impact from COVID-19 in terms of cases and deaths. The hardest-hit communities include rural areas that have higher shares of elderly residents and chronic conditions, in addition to urban areas that have higher levels of complex social factors that have a profound influence on health outcomes.

Early data reveal a positive association between concentrations of high-risk populations combined with historical disease burden (above left) and the percent of the population 18 and older with at least one dose to date (above right).

Using a standardized measure of ZIP code-level Phase 1-B Tier 2 population density, combined with case and mortality rates compared to a standardized measure of vaccine coverage in Missouri, reveals a positive association between the two composite measures, with disease burden and density explaining 13.3% of the variation in vaccine coverage throughout the state. This association reveals a degree of success in the state’s targeted distribution efforts to date. 

Staff Contact: Jackie Gatz or Kara Amann-Kale

The state announced the launch of the Missouri Vaccine Navigator, a secure registry tool to assist Missourians in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. This tool allows individuals to register for a vaccine, determine their eligibility based on Missouri’s priority phase and receive a reminder of their second dose. The Missouri Vaccine Navigator also will integrate with ShowMeVax to ease data entry burden.  Facilities with their own vaccine registration platforms will be able to link to this system for a centralized point of contact for COVID-19 vaccine administration. Recognizing that not all Missourians have online accessibility; registration assistance, including language translation, is available by calling the COVID-19 hotline at 877-435-8411.

Staff Contact: Jackie Gatz or Kara Amann-Kale

To assist facilities in their COVID-19 vaccination efforts, the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services created a vaccine tracking tool, which helps facilities track their shipments throughout the process of requesting, receiving and administering COVID-19 vaccines. The form also assists in tracking and clarifying primary and booster doses on hand. In addition, MHA compiled vaccine ordering FAQs that provide additional clarity and direction regarding both primary and booster doses.

Staff Contact: Mary Becker

BJC HealthCare and Washington University have been working to quickly vaccinate those who are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. According to its website, BJC HealthCare has administered more than 73,000 vaccines, opened two public vaccination clinics and preregistered more than 346,000 people.

Staff Contact: Andrew Wheeler

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General released information and a video to help beneficiaries identify and prevent the spread of fraud. The OIG identified that “fraudsters are offering COVID-19 tests, HHS grants and Medicare prescription cards in exchange for personal details, including Medicare information.” To prevent fraud, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is reminding beneficiaries that Medicare covers the COVID-19 vaccine with no cost to the beneficiary. CMS also warns beneficiaries to protect themselves against identity theft by safeguarding Medicare information and Medicare identification cards.

Staff Contact: Jackie Gatz or Keri Barclay

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services identified the first case of the COVID-19 variant, B.1.1.7, in a Missouri resident living in Marion County. The variant first was detected in the United Kingdom in September 2020 and was identified in the U.S. in December 2020. As of Feb. 8, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified 690 cases of the variant in the U.S. Information about the characteristics of variants found is emerging rapidly and the science is ongoing. These variants seem to spread more easily and quickly than other variants, which may lead to more cases of COVID-19. An increase in the number of cases will put more strain on health care resources, lead to more hospitalizations and potentially lead to more deaths. So far, studies suggest that antibodies generated through vaccination with currently authorized vaccines recognize these variants. This is being closely investigated and more studies are underway.

Staff Contact: Leslie Porth or Jackie Gatz

Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new drug application for remdesivir, a drug indicated for adults and pediatric patients (12 years of age and older and weighing at least 40 kg) for the treatment of COVID-19 requiring hospitalization. The approval includes two presentations.

• remdesivir for injection, 100 milligrams (mg), a sterile, preservative-free
  lyophilized powder
• remdesivir injection, 100 mg/20 milliliters (mL) (5 mg/mL), a sterile,
  preservative-free solution

Remdesivir is an injectable drug and only should be administered in a hospital or health care setting capable of providing acute care comparable to inpatient hospital care. The FDA understands that some compounders might be interested in compounding remdesivir drug products; however, they caution against compounding remdesivir drug products and recommend that health care providers utilize the FDA-approved drug for patients who are prescribed remdesivir. The agency reminds health care providers that compounded drugs are not FDA-approved and are not evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness or quality. Compounded drugs only should be used in patients whose medical needs cannot be met by an FDA-approved drug.