SoutheastHEALTH, Saint Francis to receive 2,000 vaccine doses on alternating weeks

With state officials saying more than 2 million Missourians are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has designated 42 hospitals that have the capability of administering 5,000 vaccine doses per week to receive extra doses throughout February.

Both SoutheastHEALTH and Saint Francis Healthcare System in Cape Girardeau were selected to receive extra vaccine doses on alternating weeks from the state because both have the capability of administering 5,000 per week. However, that doesn't mean both will actually receive 5,000 doses per week as allocation distribution will be proportional to regional population.

The state currently is distributing approximately 76,000 doses to enrolled vaccinators per week, but as availability increases, more doses will be distributed. The current plan is for 53% of the state's allocation to go to the high-throughput vaccinators selected from each region.

Saint Francis and Southeast-HEALTH are each expected to receive 2,000 doses from the state on alternating weeks: Southeast-HEALTH is slated to receive its allocation of extra doses this week and the week of Feb. 15, while Saint Francis is expected to receive its allocation the weeks of Feb. 8 and 22.

Saint Francis provided a comment saying the hospital has the capability to administer 2,000 doses per day.

"At this time, Saint Francis is able to administer 2,000 doses per day, or 14,000 per week, if given the vaccine," Saint Francis' comment read. "We are actively working on expansion once we receive the vaccine."

As of Wednesday, Southeast- HEALTH had administered 10,000 vaccine doses and Saint Francis had administered 8,000. As of Monday, according to a State of Missouri COVID-19 dashboard, Cape Girardeau County has had 12.5% of its residents receive the first dose. Scott County reportedly has the second highest percentage with 11.9%. These compare to 4.7% statewide.

SoutheastHEALTH president and CEO Ken Batemen is on board with an increase of vaccination efforts from the state.

"It's crucial that we vaccinate as many Missourians as possible, as efficiently as possible and as quickly as possible," Batemen said. "This is a step in the right direction to help keep our communities safe."

More mass vaccination clinics, similar to the clinic Friday at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau, are being planned. The state is expected to devote 23% of its total vaccine allocation, in addition to the high-throughput vaccinators, to the clinics that are held in partnership with local vaccine implementation teams and the Missouri National Guard. SoutheastHEALTH marketing and communications specialist Sally Owen said she expects more information to be made available on future mass vaccination clinics later this week.