Dr. Randall Williams

Audio: Missouri House Health Committee Chairman says former DHSS Director Williams “Did a fine job”

Two key Missouri lawmakers from opposite parties view Tuesday’s resignation of state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Director, Dr. Randall Williams, very differently. Missouri House Health and Mental Health Policy Committee Chairman Rep. Mike Stephens (R-Bolivar) praises Dr. Williams, while House Minority Leader Crystal Quade (D-Springfield) says the resignation was long overdue. Chairman Stephens says Williams […]

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Missouri Attorney General files suit against Biden administration to reinstate Migrant Protection Protocols enacted by Trump

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed suit against President Joe Biden, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas, and several other members of President Biden’s administration to reinstate the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) enacted by President Trump and work toward combating migrant trafficking, securing the border, and ending the border […]

COVID-19 Vaccine Generic Graphic

Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine paused in Missouri until further notice

Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine administration is being paused in Missouri until further notice. “In an abundance of caution and as per federal guidelines, we are pausing vaccination with Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine until further notice in Missouri,” said Dr. Randall Williams, director of the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). “We […]

Needle Exchange

Legislation creating needle exchange program to be heard by Missouri House

Bipartisan legislation creating a hypodermic needle exchange program will be heard by a Missouri House committee Tuesday afternoon in Jefferson City. State Sen. Holly Rehder (R-Scott City), who has sponsored the bill for several years, will testify before the Missouri House Emerging Issues Committee. Her two-page Senate Bill 64 has already received final approval from the Missouri […]

Veterans Affairs website

Missouri veterans homes open for new admissions

The Missouri Veterans Commission announces all seven Veteran Homes are taking applications for new admissions. The homes are located in Cameron, Cape Girardeau, Mexico, Mount Vernon, St. James, St. Louis, and Warrensburg. At full capacity, the homes have a total of 1,238 beds that provide long-term skilled nursing care. “We are excited to be taking […]

Vaccine Distribution or Covid-19 or Coronavirus

State vaccination teams surpass one-quarter million doses of vaccine administered to Missouri residents

State of Missouri vaccination teams supporting mass and targeted vaccination events across the state have now administered more than one-quarter million vaccines to Missourians. This total is in addition to vaccines administered by high throughput health centers, local public health agencies, federally qualified health centers, pharmacies, and other community enrolled providers. “Our state teams have been […]

Missouri and State Flags

Missouri launches transportation resource guide to expand COVID-19 vaccine access across the state

The Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), with the support of the Missouri Advisory Committee on Equitable COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution, launched a new statewide transportation guide to help address and eliminate barriers to COVID-19 vaccine access. “Get a Ride” can be found at MOStopsCovid.com/ride. The Missouri Advisory Committee on Equitable COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution, which was formed […]

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

COVID-19 vaccinator eligibility expands to additional medical professionals and students

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently amended the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act Declaration to allow more qualified professionals to serve as COVID-19 vaccinators.  This action surpasses current Missouri standing orders for vaccine administration and authorized additional categories of qualified professionals to prescribe, dispense, and administer COVID-19 vaccines anywhere in […]

Audio & Video: More than 3,600 Missourians vaccinated on Friday at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium

Missouri’s governor says more than 3,600 Jackson County residents were vaccinated on Friday at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium, the largest state-supported vaccination event thus far in the state. A second day of vaccinations took place Saturday morning at 9 and continued until 7 p.m. Two Missouri National Guard teams were at Arrowhead on Saturday, and […]

Audio: 18 percent of Missourians have received COVID-19 vaccinations

State health officials say about 18 percent of Missourians have received COVID vaccinations. Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth has the updated numbers.     The state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) says Missouri vaccinators have now administered more than one-point-seven million COVID shots, which includes the first and second doses. That’s 18-point-three percent of Missouri’s […]

Josh Hawley official Congressional photo

Senator Hawley calls for emergency Senate hearing on Biden administration’s handling of southern border crisis

Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent letters to President Joe Biden and Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, calling for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to testify at a full Senate hearing, to be scheduled as soon as possible on the growing crisis at […]

UK or United Kingdom COVID-19 or Coronavirus mutation or Variant

Detection of COVID-19 variant in wastewater, during second round of testing, found 1 location with detectable levels of virus

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) continues to partner with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, University of Missouri – Columbia, wastewater operators, and others to monitor trends of the COVID-19 by testing wastewater in communities around the state. Recently, the team has been testing wastewater to look for the presence of […]

NEW COVID Dashboard for Missouri

Missouri adds county-level antigen test data to online public health dashboard

On its online public health dashboard, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) began posting county-level data showing “probable” COVID-19 cases detected by antigen testing. Last fall, DHSS began reporting statewide numbers of reported negative and positive antigen tests.  DHSS will follow the guidance of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) […]