Missouri has been vaccinating against COVID-19 for a year. Where does the state stand?
Tuesday, Dec. 14 marked one year of COVID-19 vaccinations in the state of Missouri. More than 7.8 million doses have been administered across the state, with 52% of Missouri’s population fully vaccinated.
Despite the emergence of new virus variants, medical experts say that getting a full course of vaccination and a booster shot is the best way to stay safe from COVID-19.
“Vaccinations, in addition to other preventative measures, including wearing a mask, social distancing, ongoing testing, and regularly washing your hands, continue to be the best tools available to prevent infection,” said Donald Kauerauf, Director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, in a Dec. 14 news release.
How vaccinated is Missouri?
Seniors over the age of 65 are the most vaccinated group in the state, with around 93% having received at least one vaccine. Roughly 63% of adults over the age of 18 are fully vaccinated in Missouri.
Seniors age 65+ are 84% fully vaccinated
Adults age 18+ are 63% fully vaccinated
Everyone age 5+ are 56% fully vaccinated, with rates among youth age 5-11 rising the fastest
Next step: boosters
Vaccines and booster shots are available for free at clinics around the Kansas City area. Teenagers ages 16 and 17 were recently approved for booster shots by the CDC, and can now obtain a Pfizer booster six months after their initial vaccination is complete.
Experts say that vaccines and booster shots are especially important given the recent rise of COVID-19 cases in the Kansas City area, and that they are showing early signs of protecting against the omicron variant.
How do vaccinations in Missouri and Kansas compare to the rest of the country?
Data from the CDC shows that 52% of Missouri’s population and 56% of Kansas’ population have received a second vaccine dose as of Dec. 14. The map below shows how these states compare to the rest of the country.
Hover over each state to see its latest vaccination numbers. Darker colored states indicate a higher vaccination rate, while lighter colors indicate a lower percentage vaccinated.
Do you have more questions about COVID-19 vaccination data or how to get vaccinated in Kansas City? Ask our Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com or fill out the form below.
This story was originally published December 15, 2021 at 11:18 AM.
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