KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services late Monday updated is standing order to allow health departments across the state the ability to provide COVID-19 booster vaccinations.
Earlier Monday, several area health departments said they were unable to provide the booster shots to eligible populations as recommended last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Platte County Health Department was among the area departments who said they weren't yet able to provide the booster shots.
The health department was operating "under standing orders from the Missouri Department of Health [and Senior Services]," the health department said on social media. "As soon as the state order is updated, we will be able to offer the boosters."
That updated order came Monday afternoon.
Earlier Monday, the Jackson County Health Department, Cass County Health Department and Clay County Public Health Center also said they were awaiting state guidance before administering a third shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.
"Like Platte County, we are also waiting for the standing orders through Missouri DHSS to be updated before administering COVID-19 booster shots for all newly eligible individuals. We anticipate that the update to guidance will occur in the next day or two," Cass County Health Department Assistant Director Sarah Czech said via email to KSHB 41 News.
"We are waiting on standing orders from the state of Missouri to begin administering booster doses to the groups announced on Friday," Jackson County Health Department Communications Coordinator Mariah Cox said. "At this time, we are only offering third doses to immunocompromised individuals."
Clay County Public Health Communications Specialist Kelsey Neth also said they are only offering third doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to certain immunocompromised individuals.
The current state order allows moderately to severely immunocompromised individuals to receive a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine, according to a release from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services in August. The department has yet to amend its standing order for Pfizer booster shots.
Gov. Laura Kelly said Friday that Kansas would follow the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and authorize additional Pfizer booster shots for eligible Kansans.
