First shipment of COVID vaccines arrive in Missouri

Governor Mike Parson announced that the first shipments of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines have arrived in Missouri. The Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on Friday, December 11, confirming its safety and effectiveness.  “Today is an exciting day for Missouri as we have received the first of many […]

Operation Warp Speed

Director of Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services attends White House task force meeting on Operation Warp Speed

President Donald Trump and the White House Coronavirus Task Force invited a small group of private business, state, and health care leaders to the White House to brief them on Operation Warp Speed, the COVID-19 vaccine production and distribution project started earlier this year. Dr. Randall Williams, director of the Missouri Department of Health and […]

Audio: Pfizer’s COVID-19 drug clears key FDA hurdle; Missouri preps for vaccine’s arrival

A key Food and Drug Administration panel has recommended approving Pfizer’s request for emergency use of the company’s COVID-19 vaccine. Missouri is preparing for the vaccine’s arrival.     The full FDA could endorse the drug maker’s request as early as today. When approval happens, the vaccine is expected to be shipped to Missouri within […]

Audio: Rapid COVID-19 tests delivered to 290 Missouri K-12 schools; teachers expected to get vaccinated in February or March

Rapid COVID-19 tests have been delivered to about 290 Missouri K-12 public and private schools. State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Spokesperson Mallory McGowin says an initial shipment of the BinaxNOW antigen tests have been distributed to them – for good reason.     Another 95 schools are awaiting a shipment of the tests. […]

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Grand River Bridge on Highway 65 in Livingston County now open to two-way traffic

The bridge over the Grand River on Livingston County U.S. Route 65, just south of Chillicothe, is now open to two-way traffic. The Missouri Department of Transportation contracted with Radmacher Brothers Excavating Co. to rehabilitate the bridge’s deck or driving surface. This bridge is included in Gov. Mike Parson’s $351 million Focus on Bridges program, […]

Healthcare Graphic

Audio: Missouri prepares to launch new program to help rural hospitals with covid struggles

On Tuesday, Missouri is launching a program focused on helping rural hospitals with their problems of limited staffing, bed capacity, and equipment during the pandemic. In southwest Missouri’s Appleton City, many low-income families are waiting for care. Jamie O’Farrell tells Springfield television station KOLR she treats patients at Ellett Memorial Hospital’s clinic.     Through […]

Audio: All healthcare, long-term care residents and staff in Missouri should begin receiving vaccinations this month

Missouri’s state health department chief says the state should be able to begin vaccinating this month all hospital and long-term care staff and residents against COVID-19.     Dr. Randall Williams says the state is expected to get enough doses this month to begin vaccinating all of Missouri’s roughly 340,000 healthcare workers and long-term care […]

Training Graphic

EPA awards $2.5 million to the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs for farmworker pesticide training

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has selected the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs to receive up to $500,000 annually to conduct pesticide safety training across the country over the next five years. With EPA funding, AFOP will administer this grant to provide occupational health and safety training to migrant and seasonal farmworkers in more than […]